Fully Vaccination Coverage and Associated Factors among Children Aged 12 to 23 Months in Arba Minch Zuriya Woreda, Southern Ethiopia

Despite efforts to improve Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) services, outbreaks related to vaccine preventable diseases are still major problems in developing countries including Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to assess fully vaccination coverage and associated factors among children aged between 12 to 23 months. A community-based cross-sectional study using thirty-by-seven cluster sampling technique developed by WHO in 1978 was employed in Arba Minch zuriya district, Southern Ethiopia in March, 2014. The district was divided in to thirty clusters based on geographic boundary and a total of 210 mothers/care givers whose children aged between 12-23 months old during study period were included in the study. Interviewer administered pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from mothers/care givers and in- depth interviews with Arba Minch Woreda health office, respective health centers EPI coordinators and health extension workers using interview guide were conducted. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was used to assess factors associated with fully vaccination coverage. Fully vaccination coverage among children aged 12–23 months in the study area was 53.3%. Those mothers/care givers who attended formal education [AOR = 3.73, (95% CI = 1.66, 8.42)]; received antenatal care in their last pregnancy [AOR = 4.05, (95% CI = 1.7, 9.63)]; delivered their last child at health facility [AOR = 3.24, (95% CI = 1.23, 8.42)] and informed the date of subsequent vaccine during EPI session by health workers [AOR = 6.72, (95% CI = 2.83, 15.94)] were more likely to get their child fully vaccinated than their counter parts. In conclusion fully vaccination coverage among children aged 12–23 months remains low. Maternal education on the benefits of vaccination and health care utilization (especially antenatal care and institutional delivery) should be strengthened. Keywords: Fully vaccination, Vaccination coverage, Children aged 12-23 months, Arba Minc