THE IMPACT OF PARENTAL EDUCATION AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ON ROUTINE CHILDHOOD VACCINATION: AN OBSEVATIONAL STUDY

Objective: to assess the vaccination status of children less than 5 years and to determine the factors associated with low coverage vaccination status. methodology: this was a prospective study conducted at the department of pediatrics, rehman medical institute peshawar from 1st january to 31st july 2012. a total of 300 cases were selected attending outpatient department. the parents and guardians were interviewed with a proforma regarding the vaccination status of all children from 1 month to 5 year of age. world health organization, expanded programme of immunization, vaccine schedule was followed. the parents/guardians were asked for vaccination cards as confirmation of vaccination and failing to do so, the parents/guardians were thoroughly interviewed including direct and indirect questioning. results: a total of 240 out of 300 (80%) attending outpatient department were vaccinated while 43 (14.3%) were unvaccinated and remaining 17 (5.7%) were partially vaccinated. ninety children belonged to high socio economic status (ses), 25 to low and 185 belonged to middle ses. seventy six out of 240 (31.6%) vaccinated children were from families of high socio economic status. the study revealed that 15 out of 27(55.5%) of the illiterate parent’s children were either partially vaccinated or unvaccinated. conclusion: the overall rate of routine childhood vaccination remains below international benchmark. the rate of vaccination was significantly better in children of parents from educated and higher socioeconomic class.