Equity and utilization of preventive health care services. The case of immunization completion among children 12-23 months in Kagera region Tanzania.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with completion of immunization as an input in to strategies to raise the immunization coverage in Tanzania.

METHODS

This study used a panel data collected over four survey rounds at a minimum of six months apart to determine the causes of failure to complete immunization in Tanzania. The data were collected during between 1991 and 1994 in Kagera region Tanzania among children 12-23 months old. Data analysis was done using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) version 9.1. Pooled logistic regression was used to determine the likelihood odds ratio of completing immunization.

RESULTS

The study observed 550 children contributing 1541 children observation rounds across all panels. Immunization coverage was 87.7 percent and factors that significantly (p<0.05) increasing completion of immunization were having more than three under five children, high mother's education, being urban, road passable through out the year and high economic status. If head of household was a female compared to male it significantly reduced the odds of completing immunization.

CONCLUSIONS

Strategies to improve immunization coverage have to give priority to households headed by a female, poor and those with poor access to health care.