Rural-urban Disparities in Maternal Immunization Knowledge and Childhood Health-Seeking Behavior in Nigeria: a Mixed Method Study

ABSTRACT

Background: Immunization and appropriate health-seeking behavior are effective strategies to reduce child deaths. Objectives: To compare maternal knowledge about immunization; use of growth chart and childhood health-seeking behavior in rural and urban areas. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study done in Lagos; Nigeria. Questionnaire survey and focus group discussions were done. 300 respondents were selected by multi-stage sampling while discussants were purposively selected. Results: Awareness of immunization was high but knowledge of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) was poor in both areas. Urban women utilized preventive services more; growth monitoring (p0.001) and immunization (p0.001) while higher proportions of rural women utilized nutritional counseling (p