Credit: Annie Spratt
Vaccines are one of the most effective ways to prevent diseases and protect children's health. In Nigeria, the government has been making efforts to increase vaccination coverage to protect children against vaccine-preventable childhood diseases. The latest Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in 2021 showed that 63.7% of children aged 12-23 months were currently vaccinated against vaccine-preventable childhood diseases.
The crude coverage of vaccination against vaccine-preventable childhood diseases refers to the percentage of children who have received at least one dose of any vaccine recommended by the national immunization program. The coverage rates are an important indicator of the effectiveness of the immunization program and the level of protection provided to the population against vaccine-preventable diseases.
The MICS report indicated that vaccination coverage against vaccine-preventable childhood diseases is slightly higher among males (63.8%) than females (63.6%). However, the difference is not significant enough to conclude that one gender is receiving more immunization than the other. It is crucial to ensure that both genders receive equal access to immunization services to prevent any gender bias in the coverage rates.
The report also showed that the vaccination coverage rates are higher in urban areas (78.2%) than rural areas (55.5%). The disparity in vaccination coverage between urban and rural areas can be attributed to factors such as access to healthcare services, education, and socioeconomic status. The government and health authorities need to take steps to address these challenges and ensure that children in rural areas have access to immunization services.
It is essential to note that the immunization coverage rates reported in the MICS survey are below the target set by the government. The National Immunization Coverage Target is 90% for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus Influenza Type b (DTP-HepB-Hib) vaccine. Therefore, there is a need for further efforts to improve the coverage rates to achieve the target set by the government.
The data showed that there is a clear relationship between the mother's education level and the vaccination coverage rates of children aged 12-23 months.
Among mothers with no formal education, the vaccination coverage rate was the lowest, with only 44.6% of their children receiving at least one dose of a vaccine recommended by the national immunization program. This figure is significantly lower than the national average of 63.7%.
The vaccination coverage rates increased with the level of education of the mothers. For those with a primary education, the coverage rate increased to 61.5%. For mothers with a junior secondary education, the coverage rate further increased to 68.9%. For those with a senior secondary education, the coverage rate was even higher, at 78.2%.
The highest vaccination coverage rate was observed among mothers with higher/tertiary education, with 92.4% of their children receiving at least one dose of a vaccine recommended by the national immunization program.
These results show that maternal education is a critical factor in determining the vaccination coverage rates of children. Educated mothers are more likely to understand the importance of immunization and have better access to healthcare services. Education can also enable mothers to make informed decisions regarding their child's health and wellbeing.
The government and health authorities need to focus on improving access to education, particularly for women, to increase vaccination coverage rates and improve child health outcomes. Educating mothers can also help to address the disparities in vaccination coverage rates among different socioeconomic groups.
The results also showed that there were significant differences in vaccination coverage rates among the six geopolitical regions of the country.
The South East region had the highest vaccination coverage rate, with 90% of children aged 12-23 months currently vaccinated against vaccine-preventable childhood diseases. This is significantly higher than the national average of 63.7%.
The South South region also had a relatively high vaccination coverage rate of 78.4%, followed by the South West region at 75.4%.
The North Central region had a lower vaccination coverage rate of 65.1%, followed by the North East region at 52.4%, and the North West region at 50.8%. The lower vaccination coverage rates in these regions can be attributed to factors such as limited access to healthcare services, low levels of education, and socioeconomic factors.
The results showed that there were significant differences in vaccination coverage rates among the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria.
The state with the highest vaccination coverage rate was Ebonyi with a coverage rate of 99.1%. Enugu had the second-highest coverage rate at 96.8%, followed by Imo at 92.3%, and Ekiti at 88.3%.
On the other hand, Sokoto had the lowest vaccination coverage rate at only 23%, followed by Zamfara at 25.2%, and Bauchi at 40.5%. These low vaccination coverage rates in some states can be attributed to a lack of access to healthcare services and low levels of education.
The government and health authorities should prioritize efforts to improve access to healthcare services and increase awareness about the importance of immunization in states with lower vaccination coverage rates. These efforts should include expanding immunization services and providing education campaigns to increase awareness about the benefits of vaccination.
It is crucial to note that the lower vaccination coverage rates in the northern regions of the country highlight the need for targeted efforts to improve access to healthcare services and increase awareness about the importance of immunization.
The government and health authorities should prioritize efforts to increase vaccination coverage rates in the regions with lower coverage rates to improve child health outcomes and prevent the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.
In conclusion, the MICS 2021 report showed that the vaccination coverage rates against vaccine-preventable childhood diseases in Nigeria are below the target set by the government. The disparities between urban and rural areas indicate a need for further efforts to improve access to healthcare services in rural areas. The government and health authorities should prioritize measures to increase vaccination coverage rates to protect children's health and prevent the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.