PLoS ONE (Jan 2023)

Factors associated with low childhood immunization coverage among Rohingya refugee parents in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

  • Nawshin Ahmed,
  • A S M Ishtiak,
  • Md Faisal Kabir Rozars,
  • Atia Sharmin Bonna,
  • K M Pritam Alam,
  • Md Elias Hossan,
  • Rajib Das,
  • Joyeeta Khan,
  • Tahmina Zerin Mishu,
  • Sadia Afrin,
  • Naima Sultana,
  • Md Reza Al Mamun Rubel,
  • Md Abdullah Saeed Khan,
  • Nadira Sultana Kakoly

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0283881
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 4
p. e0283881

Abstract

Read online

IntroductionImmunization campaigns and Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) were launched by Government of Bangladesh (GoB) in collaboration with WHO and other Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) to tackle the increased risk of vaccine preventable disease outbreak in the Rohingya refugee camps. Immunization coverage was found to be lower than expected. However, a few studies explored the factors behind low vaccine uptake among Refugee children. Therefore, this study was aimed.MethodsA cross sectional study was carried out among Rohingya parents living in registered camps and makeshift settlements located in Teknaf and Ukhiya upazilla of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. A total of 224 Rohingya parents were conveniently selected (122 parents from each type of camps). Data was collected using a pretested interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire with the help of bilingual volunteers who understand Rohingya dialect. All statistical analyses were carried out in IBM SPSS Version 26 (New York, USA).ResultsTotal 63.1% of Rohingya parents had good practice regarding childhood immunization (completed EPI vaccination) as per schedule. Of all, 74.6% had good knowledge and 94.7% had positive attitude towards EPI vaccination. Good practice regarding vaccination was significantly more common among parents living in registered camps (77%) than those living in makeshift settlements (49.2%, p2 children (aOR: 3.71; 95%CI: 1.34-10.27), and in makeshift settlements, father's employment (aOR: 2.33; 95%CI: 1.34-6.72), father's education (aOR: 3.00; 95%CI: 1.34-6.72) and presence of any electronic device (e.g., radio, television, mobile phone) (aOR: 4.01; 95%CI: 0.96-16.84) were significant determinants of good childhood immunization practice.ConclusionHealth education and promotion strategies should be implemented to increase knowledge and awareness about EPI immunization benefits among Rohingya parents to ensure greater coverage.