Timeliness and completeness of vaccination and risk factors for low and late vaccine uptake in young children living in rural southern Tanzania
de Waroux, OL;
Schellenberg, JRA;
Manzi, F;
Mrisho, M;
Shirima, K;
Mshinda, H;
Alonso, P;
Tanner, M;
Schellenberg, DM;
(2013)
Timeliness and completeness of vaccination and risk factors for low and late vaccine uptake in young children living in rural southern Tanzania.
International health, 5 (2).
pp. 139-147.
ISSN 1876-3413
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/iht006
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We studied coverage and timeliness of vaccination and risk factors for low and delayed vaccine uptake in children aged 2 years in rural Tanzania. We used data from a cluster survey conducted in 2004, which included 1403 children. Risk factors were analysed by log-binomial regression adjusted for the clustering. The analysis was restricted to BCG, first and third dose of DiphtheriaTetanusPertussis vaccines (DTP-1 and DTP-3) and first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV-1). Coverage for BCG, DTP-1, DTP-3 and MCV-1 was 94, 96, 90 and 86, respectively. Delayed vaccination (1 month after the recommended age) occurred in 398/1205 (33) children for BCG, 404/1189 (34) for DTP-1, 683/990 (69) for DTP-3 and 296/643 (46) for MCV-1. Coverage was lower for all vaccines except DTP-1 in children living 5km from a healthcare facility. Delayed uptake was associated with poverty. Low and delayed MCV-1 vaccination was associated with low maternal education. Delayed BCG vaccination was associated with ethnicity and rainy season. Despite reasonably high vaccination coverage, we observed substantial vaccination delays, particularly for DTP-3 and MCV-1. We found specific factors associated with low and/or delayed vaccine uptake. These findings can help to improve strategies to reach children who remain inadequately protected.
