Ewang Bestina Forkwa, Eyong Mathias Esum, Cumber Samuel Nambile, Nkfusai Claude Ngwayu, Yankam Brenda Mbouamba, Anye Cho Sabastine, Achu Jacintha Rebang, Suh Bih Moki, Nkeng Mildred Njoache, Nzoyom Rosette Boseme, Tsoka-Gwegweni Joyce Mahlako, Akum Eric Achidi
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Int J MCH AIDS. 2020;9(2):242-251. doi: 10.21106/ijma.308. Epub 2020 Jul 9.
Inadequate vaccination coverage with increased risk of vaccine preventable disease outbreaks remain a problem in Africa. The aim of this study was to assess the vaccination coverage levels under the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in a health area and to identify factors that affect vaccination coverage in view of providing valuable data for disease prevention.
A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in August 2017 in the Mbonge health area, Southwest Cameroon. Clustered sampling technique was used to select study communities and a purposive sampling design was used to select households. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information from consenting caregivers of children aged 9-23 months. Vaccination coverage was assessed by consulting the vaccination cards and parents' recall. In households with more than one child aged 9-23months, the youngest was chosen.
Overall, 300 caregivers were enrolled into the study. The average vaccination coverage for the past three years (2014-2016) was 34.0%. Two hundred and fifty-five (85%) children had vaccination cards. Amongst the children, 143 (47.7%) had taken all vaccines as recommended while 30 (10%) had not received a single dose. Factors significantly associated with incomplete vaccination status included: occupation (being a farmer) (p-value=0.011), marital status (married) (p-value=0.048), caregiver's utilization of health facility (p-value=0.003), low levels of mothers' utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services (p-value=0.000), and low knowledge on vaccination (p-value=0.000).
Adequate vaccination coverage can be attained through good sensitization and health education for primary caregivers. Targeting families living far away from vaccination centers, using appropriate communication and vaccination strategies may improve vaccination coverage in the Mbonge Health Area of South West Region, Cameroon.
疫苗接种覆盖率不足，且疫苗可预防疾病暴发风险增加，这在非洲仍是一个问题。本研究的目的是评估一个卫生区域内扩大免疫规划（EPI）下的疫苗接种覆盖率水平，并确定影响疫苗接种覆盖率的因素，以便为疾病预防提供有价值的数据。
2017年8月在喀麦隆西南部的姆邦格卫生区域进行了一项横断面家庭调查。采用整群抽样技术选择研究社区，并采用目的抽样设计选择家庭。通过访谈员填写的问卷从9至23个月大儿童的同意参与的照料者处获取信息。通过查阅疫苗接种卡和家长回忆来评估疫苗接种覆盖率。在有多名9至23个月大儿童的家庭中，选择最小的孩子。
总体而言，300名照料者参与了本研究。过去三年（2014 - 2016年）的平均疫苗接种覆盖率为34.0%。255名（85%）儿童有疫苗接种卡。在这些儿童中，143名（47.7%）按照推荐接种了所有疫苗，而30名（10%）一剂疫苗都未接种。与疫苗接种不完全状态显著相关的因素包括：职业（农民）（p值 = 0.011）、婚姻状况（已婚）（p值 = 0.048）、照料者对卫生机构的利用情况（p值 = 0.003）、母亲产前保健（ANC）服务利用率低（p值 = 0.000）以及对疫苗接种的知识了解不足（p值 = 0.000）。
通过对主要照料者进行良好的宣传和健康教育，可以实现足够的疫苗接种覆盖率。针对居住在远离疫苗接种中心的家庭，采用适当的沟通和疫苗接种策略，可能会提高喀麦隆西南部地区姆邦格卫生区域的疫苗接种覆盖率。
