Background: Immunization is one of the most cost effective methods of preventing childhood diseases and needs to
be sustained with higher coverage for desired benefits. Objective of the study was to assess immunization coverage in
children of 12-23 months of age group in urban slums of Ahmedabad city.
Methods: Using the purposive sampling method, a cross sectional community based study was conducted in urban
slum area (Vadaj area) of Ahmedabad city during July-November 2014. All 114 children of 12-23 months age group
of the area were included after taking verbal informed consent of their parents or guardians. Vaccination status of the
children was verified using the Mamta card. In conditions where the Mamta card was not available, the
mother/parents were asked about the site of vaccinations to confirm the vaccines being given. Analysis of study was
done by using appropriate statistical software.
Results: Total 936 households were surveyed. There were 114 children in the 12-23 months age group. Mamta card
or immunization record was available with 84 (73.6%) mothers of 12-23 months age group of children. Maximum
coverage was seen for BCG (96.5%) followed by pentavalent first dose (90.3%). Measles 1st dose coverage was
81.5%.Overall, 80.7% of the children in the 12-23 months age group were fully immunized while only four children
were unimmunized. Dropout rate percentage for pentavalent 1
st dose to pentavalent 3
rd dose was 4.4% while for
pentavalent first dose to measles was 8.8%.
Conclusions: Full immunization coverage was 80.7% which was better than the national surveys still the causes for
no/partial vaccinations need to be addressed.