Rural-urban comparison of routine immunization utilization and its determinants in communities in Anambra States, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES

The study determined the levels of geographic differences in the utilization of routine immunization between households in an urban and a rural community. It also identified and compared the determinants of utilization of routine immunization in the two geographic areas.

METHOD

The study was undertaken in two randomly selected communities (one rural and one urban) in Anambra State, Nigeria. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect information on utilization of immunization services from households. Data were analyzed using descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses.

RESULT

Households in the urban community had a higher level of utilization of routine immunization (95.5%) than those in the rural community (75.3%) and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). It was also found that more rural dwellers (83.3%) received immunization services from public health facilities compared to the urban dwellers (42%; p < 0.05). Health facilities were nearer to households in the urban community than the rural community (p < 0.05). Mean cost of service per visit was higher in the urban community (p < 0.05), but the difference in the mean cost of transportation per visit was not significant (p = 0.125). Regression analysis shows that place of residence was highly significant for utilization of routine immunization services (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Urban-rural differences exist in utilization of routine immunization services. Health facilities are more proximal to consumers in the urban community than the rural community, with higher travel costs among rural dwellers. Ensuring that there is a functional primary healthcare center in every ward and provision of routine immunization services in market places on local market days can help to increase utilization and reduce rural-urban differences in utilization of immunization services.