Immunization status; assessment of children between 1 - 3 years coming to OPD of children hospital and institute of child health, Lahore

To assess the immunization status of children between 1-3 years of age coming to the Children Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore. Descriptive study. The study was conducted at OPD of Children Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore. The data was collected in two weeks in December, 2006. Information was gathered from parents about the immunization status of 50 children and awareness of parents of these children about the vaccine preventable diseases, using a pre-tested questionnaire comprising of close ended questions. The results were presented in the form of tables and graphs. The data was collected for 28 male children [56%] and 22 female children [44%]. According to parents, 29 children [58%] were delivered at hospitals, whereas, 21 children [42%] were born at home. Maximum immunization was done at Government hospitals [47%]. About 40% of the children had their first immunization at the time of birth. Only 17% of the parents could easily recall vaccination of their children against polio, about 14% of parents could name pertussis, 13% of parents named tuberculosis, about 12% of parents could name hepatitis and measles, diphtheria was known to only 7% of parents and tetanus was named about 5% of parents. Among the parents, 18% could not answer this question. Nearly all the children [98%] had taken polio drops at home. The best source of information about immunization program was declared to be the health care providers [33%], mass media [23%], mother/mother in law [19%], and other family members [17%]. The present study concludes that 99% of children coming to OPD of Children Hospital were immunized for Polio, despite the lack of awareness among parents about vaccination against other communicable diseases. The best source of information about immunization was the health care providers, mass media and family members