Browsing by Author "Eliphas, Gitonga"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Influence of Community-Based Interventions on Routine Immunization Uptake among Children Under Five Years in Ntungamo District-Uganda
    (Texila International Journal of Public Health, 2021) Topher, Byamukama; Margaret, Keraka; Eliphas, Gitonga
    Evidence of the effectiveness of community-based interventions in improving immunization coverage in populations of low coverage is limited. Vaccine-preventable diseases is a major public health challenge in low-income countries where Uganda lies, and immunization is the only reliable strategy for child survival. The study's objective was to assess the influence of a community-based intervention on the uptake of immunization services to recommend strategies to health stakeholders to improve immunization coverage. A quasi-experimental study was conducted in three phases. Structured and key informant interviews were used as data collection tools. Phase one provided baseline data before the intervention, the second phase was a community-based intervention, and the third phase was post-intervention evaluation. There was no significant difference on the uptake of BCG, POLIO-0, POLIO-1, POLIO-2, DPTHeP-Hib1, DPTHeP-Hib2, PCV1 and PCV2 immunizations between the intervention and control group post-intervention (P= 1.00, α =0.5). The level of knowledge on immunization was 68.8% and 29.6% in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The difference between the two was statistically significant (P=0.00 = α= 0.5). There was a significant association between the level of knowledge of the caregivers on immunization and the uptake of immunization services (P=0.00, α=0.5). There was also a statistically significant difference in immunization coverage between the intervention and control groups (97.5%) and (75.1%) for the intervention and control groups, respectively. The difference was statistically associated with the community-based intervention (P =0.00, α=0.5). Community-based interventions influenced the uptake of routine immunization services.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Perceptions of caregivers on immunization in Ntungamo district, Uganda
    (International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health | December 2021 | Vol 8 | Issue 12 Page 5729 International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 2021) Topher, Byamukama; Margaret, Keraka; Eliphas, Gitonga
    Background: Immunization is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions to reduce child mortality and morbidity associated with infectious diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the perceptions of caregivers on immunization in Ntungamo district. Methods: Quasi-experimental study was used with health centres assigned to intervention and control groups. Purposive sampling was used to select the two counties where the study was done. Proportional sampling was done to get study samples from each health facility, while systematic sampling was done to get study participants. A total of 787 children from twelve health facilities provided the study sample. A post intervention evaluation was conducted to determine the effect of these interventions. Association of variables was tested using Mann Whitney U-test and Chi-square. Results: On benefits, most caregivers in the intervention group (85.3%) and in the control group (54.3%) regarded immunization as very highly and moderately beneficial to their children respectively. On risks, most caregivers in the intervention group (85.5%) and control group (43.1%) regarded the risk factor associated with immunization as very low and moderate respectively. From hypothesis testing, there was a significant difference on the perceived benefits and risks of immunization between the intervention and control group. Conclusions: Most caregivers in the intervention and control group regarded immunization as very highly beneficial and moderately to their children respectively. Most of the caregivers in the intervention and control group regarded the risk factor associated with immunization as very low and moderate respectively.