DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i02.071

Pages: 826-829

To outline the immunization status of rural children, a cross-sectional study was undertaken in the immunization unit of rural health training centre, Dhaura, Department of community medicine, SRMS Institute of Medical Sciences, Bareilly among children (n = 331) in the age group of 0-24 months belonging to rural areas of the district Bareilly, UP. Parents of 331 children were interviewed using a preformed schedule. Children were labeled as 'completely immunized', or 'incompletely immunized' according to working definitions. Percentages and chi-square test analysis was done for statistical analysis. There were 81 children (24.5%) who were 'completely' immunized and 250 (75.5%) were 'incompletely' immunized. The prevalence of immunization status among male children was more than the female children. On comparing the immunization status of 0-12 months old male (147) and female (143) children with the immunization status of 12-24 months male children (31) and female children (10), it was found that the former group had better immunization status than the latter group, and it was statistically significant. (Chi square=8.97, df=1, p=0.002). The most common reasons for incomplete-immunization (n = 250) were may be lack of knowledge regarding vaccines and schedule, fear of 'injection' busy in profession and low socio economic status. The various factors may be influence the immunization status of rural children needs to be addressed in order to achieve millennium development goal of reducing under-five child mortality.