Chidebe O Anaekwe¹, Adaeze N Anaekwe¹, Chinomnso C Nnebue^{1, 2,}, Kamtochukwu M Obi¹, Amobi L Ilika^{1, 3}

Background: Immunization remains a cost effective public health intervention strategy in improving on poor health indices linked with vaccine preventable diseases. Maternal knowledge, attitude and factors such as migration could be key in achieving this goal. Objective: To determine and compare the maternal knowledge, attitude and uptake of routine immunization in ‘Sabo’ and ‘Non-Sabo’ communities in Awka, Anambra state. Materials and Methods: A comparative study of 420 mothers and caregivers in Sabo and non-Sabo communities in Awka selected by multistage sampling, was conducted between July and October 2015. Data were obtained via semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaires and analysed using IBM/SPSS version 22.0. Statistically significant differences were determined using student’s t, chi square, Fisher’s exact and Yates correction tests, with significance level set at p value of < 0.05. Results: The mean age groups were 32.54 ± 7.35 years for Sabo and 32.64 ± 6.88 years for non-Sabo communities (p = 0.125), while 209 (99.5%) in Sabo compared to 206 (98.1%) in non-Sabo communities, had good knowledge of immunization (p= 0.368). Equal numbers, 205 (97.6%) respondents in both communities had good attitude, 166 (79%) in Sabo compared to -205 (97.6%) in non-Sabo communities, had good uptake (p = 0.000). The relationships in both communities are as follows: rates of child illness (p= 0.000); relocation (p = 0.000); adverse effects of immunization (p = 0.000); distance to centre (p= 0.000); availability of vaccinators (p= 0.000) and waiting time (p= 0.000). Conclusions: From our study findings, there were good knowledge and attitude towards routine immunization in both communities. However, uptake of routine immunization was better in non-Sabo than in Sabo communities. We recommend that stakeholders improve on sustained behavior change communication targeted at reasons for poor uptake of routine immunization.

knowledge, attitude, uptake, Awka Nigeria, routine immunization, Sabo communities