A Sociological Study on the Use of Child Immunization in Kano, Nigeria

In Nigeria, children are vulnerable to the preventable killer diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, tuberculosis, measles, whooping cough and poliomyelitis which account for the high rates of mortality and morbidity in children. Immunization coverage has been fluctuating due to organizational, logistic and sociological reasons. For some time, Nigeria was one of the last polio endemic zones that were difficult to eradicate. The government in concert with international development partners has been expending colossal resources to tackle the ravages of childhood diseases. Still, there are sociological factors that are facilitating, precluding and affecting compliance or rejection of immunization services. Using path analysis and other statistical measures the study has demonstrated the direct and indirect relationships in immunization use between the key variables of perception, awareness, vaccine availability, formal education and exposure to immunization information. Social mobilization and improvement in network of communication in the community are important areas that would tackle resistance, improve usage and further enhance positive perception and acceptability of immunization.