Constraints to Participation in Immunization Programmes among Childbearing Women Attending Health Services in Yorro Local Government Area Health Facilities, Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study determined constraints to participation in infant immunization programmes among childbearing women attending health facilities in Yorro Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study objectives were to determine constrains relating to: finance; culture/religion, politics and personnel thus four corresponding research questions guided the study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Population for the study consisted of 3,620 childbearing women. A sample size of 362 childbearing women was selected and used for the study. A validated and reliable questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. Results showed that majority (81%) of the respondents indicated that cost of transportation to immunization clinics is a major financial constraint to participation in immunization programmes. Also, 85.7 per cent agreed that preference to traditional medicine is a major cultural constraint while 72 per cent were of the opinion that immunization is a way to reduce children’s fertility. The study concluded that cost of transportation to immunization clinics, preference to traditional medicine and unproven beliefs are the major financial, cultural and religious constraints to participation in immunization programme respectively. The study recommended that more health facilities should be built and strategically situated in each community to increase proximity and accessibility and that childbearing woman should be given health talks periodically during antenatal and immunization to help correct unscientific beliefs regarding immunization