Factors Determining Childhood Immunisation in the Coast Province of Kenya

Abstract

Immunisation is considered very important in reducing early childhood mortality and protecting children from disability. However, recent statistics show a low and declining coverage for children less than23 months of age hence raising concern on the cause and implication to child health and survival. This paper uses data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2003, to examine the factors determining childhood immunisation in the coast province of Kenya. The analysis covers four Antigens: BCG, DPT1, Polio I and Measles. The key findings are that maternal education, attendance of Antenatal care services, Access to mass media, and the location of household are the main determinants of childhood immunisation at household level. It is also shown that Father's education at below primary level, being born of Non Christian mother, female-headed household, low autonomy for women, a mother being of below seventeen years of age at her first birth" female sex of a child and poverty negatively influence the probability of childhood immunisation, as is living in Tana-River and Lamu districts. On the other hand, living in an urban area or TaitaTaveta district, Hospital delivery, father's education at primary level and above and mothers working in paid employment positively influences immunisation of children. Based on the findings, the inference made is that consumer-based factors have important influence in determining household decisions to take children for immunisation.