Indian Journal of Science and Technology
DOI: 10.17485/ijst/2019/v12i34/146982
Year: 2019, Volume: 12, Issue: 34, Pages: 1-7
Original Article
Suneel Raja1,2, Jaishri Mehraj1,3,4*, Subhash Guriro5 and Muhammad Ali Shaikh5
1Department of Public Health, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), Karachi, Sindh; [email protected] 2The United Nations Children’s Fund, Country Office, Pakistan; [email protected] 3Emergency Operation Center for Polio Eradication and Immunization, Karachi Sindh, Pakistan 4The Task Force for Global Health, Inc. TEPHINET Program, Pakistan 5Sindh Madressatul Islam (SMI) University, Karachi, Pakistan; [email protected], [email protected]
*Author for correspondence
Jaishri Mehraj
The United Nations Children’s Fund, Country Office, Pakistan; [email protected]
Background: Tetanus remains endemic in poor and developing countries since last decades as compared to rich and advanced countries. Low Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccination coverage has led to Tetanus related high morbidity and mortality amongst women and children in developing countries like Pakistan. Therefore, this study aims to assess the coverage of TT vaccination, knowledge about importance of TT vaccination and barriers to get full coverage among young women. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in district Khairpur among the female students of one Public Sector University. Total of 384 unmarried female students of more than 17 years of age were enrolled in the study. Information on vaccination status and different associated factors was collected through a questionnaire. We used logistic regression analysis to assess factors associated with vaccination status. Results: The mean age of study participants were 20.9 years with 2.15 standard deviation. Total of 311 (81%) respondents had heard about TT vaccination and among 160 (41.7%) major source of information was health care provider. Most of the respondents 303 (78.9%) were considering Tetanus as a health problem. Furthermore, 141 (36.7%) respondents knew that completion of 5 doses of TT vaccination can protect them from Tetanus disease. About 53 % young women were vaccinated for TT including 11% fully vaccinated and 42% partially vaccinated. In multivariable model, those who were aware of Tetanus diseases were more likely to be vaccinated than those who had not heard about Tetanus disease (odds ratio 2.76: 95% confidence interval; 1.19-6.43). Conclusion: We have found significant relationship of knowledge of Tetanus disease and vaccination coverage in the young adult women of Khairpur district. Study suggests the enhanced focus of government and other stakeholders on women’s health education which can increase the uptake of vaccination among young women.
Keywords: Knowledge, Sindh, Vaccination, Tetanus Toxoid, Women
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