Background: In Ghana, Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) routine
administrative coverages are high but childhood immunization status still remains low.
Most children do not receive all the recommended vaccine doses before one year of age.
Coverage surveys to validate the administrative coverages and identify predictors of
immunization status are also not given the desired attention. The objective of this study
was to evaluate the immunization coverage among children aged 12–23 months in the
Techiman Municipality, Ghana.
Methods: A cross-sectional cluster survey was conducted among 600 children aged
12–23 months in the Techiman Municipality, Ghana. Data was collected using semistructured
questionnaire through interviews. Before the main data collection, the tools
were pre-tested in three communities. The mothers/caregivers were interviewed and
additional information was extracted from the child immunization cards by copying
from the card and observing Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) scar. In addition, key
informant interview was also conducted among 18 service providers. Data was entered,
cleaned and processed using Statistical Package for Service Solution SPSS version 17.0.
Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages and means were produced. In
addition, data was exported into STATA and binary regression analysis performed to
identify factors associated with immunization status of children.
Results: Binary regression was performed to determine predictors of immunization
status. The following were statistically significant: formal education (OR=0.97, 95%CI
0.46-2.07; and p<0.001), married (OR=0.31; 95%CI 0.15-0.62; and p=0.001),
Christianity (OR=0.27; 95%CI 0.13-0.91; and p<0.001), salary work mothers
(OR=0.34, 95%CI 0.16-0.67; and p=0.041) female child (OR=0.50; 95%CI 0.26-0.91;
and p=0.024) and possession of immunization card (OR=50.3; 14.40-175.92; and
p<0.001) were found to be associated with immunization status.
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Conclusion: Immunization status before one year of age in the Techiman Municipality
remains below the 80% target as recommended by health partners. In order to improve
the prevailing situation, education of mothers on the benefits of immunization, planning
immunization sessions with immunization beneficiaries and creation of more outreach
centers are urgently needed to maintain and enhance the current immunization coverage.