Threatened child health through lack of immunization: Identification of risk groups in Uganda.

Abstract

Despite the great success of the worldwide Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), there are still 2 million third world children who die every year from the vaccine-preventable diseases. While the great majority of children in Uganda and other third world countries receive vaccination against tuberculosis (BCG) and the first dose of oral polio vaccine, many do not complete the EPI vaccination series; and neonatal tetanus is still a major concern, since most fertile women in the third world are not covered with two doses of tetanus toxoid (TT). Main objectives. Using data of the 1988-89 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS): (1) To assess risk factors for children not getting immunized against tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and measles. (2) To assess risk factors for not completing the EPI vaccination series (the "drop-out" problem). (3) To assess risk factors for pregnant women not receiving tetanus toxoid for protection against neonatal tetanus; and hence: (a) To identify high risk groups/populations where children are less likely to get immunized (partly thru fully). (b) To identify high risk groups of pregnant women in terms of not receiving tetanus toxoid during pregnancy. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)