Urban–Rural Disparities on Clients Knowledge of Cause and Preventive Measures for Childhood Immunizable Diseases in Primary Health Centers of Enugu State, Nigeria

Aims: The study was designed to determine urban–rural disparities on clients knowledge of cause and preventive measures for childhood immunizable diseases in primary health care facilities of Enugu State, Nigeria.

Methodology: Using a cross-sectional analytical study design, a three stage sampling technique was adopted to select 800 clients who presented with their children/wards to 18 of 440 primary health centers in the study area for immunization services. The study took place between October and December 2013. The outcome measure of study was clients’ good knowledge of cause of childhood immunizable diseases, and was determined by proportion of clients who knew the cause of four of the eight childhood immunizable diseases in the national immunization schedule.

Results: Majority of the clients were aware of the childhood immunizable diseases and also their preventive measures. Knowledge of cause of tetanus was high, (urban, 75.3%; rural 71.3%), but low for poliomyelitis, (urban 0.5%;, rural 3.3%), and yellow fever, (urban, 5.0%; rural 5.5%). None of the clients knew the cause of measles. Low and comparable proportion of clients in the two study groups had good knowledge of cause of childhood immunizable diseases, (urban, 23.8%; rural 27.5%). Predictor of good knowledge of cause of the diseases is maternal attainment of primary education, (AOR) =0.4, 95% CI: 0.2- 0.8).

Conclusion: Majority of the respondents were aware of the childhood immunizable diseases and also their methods of prevention. The clients perception of the cause of childhood immunizable diseases was poor in the study area. There is need for adequate public enlightenment on the cause of these diseases including health education of the mothers during immunization visits as good understanding of the causes may serve as a boost to the immunization programme and help to increase its coverage.