Abstract

has a significant role in saving millions of lives every year[1]. Immunization of each and every child is the need of the hour to reduce under 5 mortality/morbidity in India[2]. Still the coverage of immunization varies widely among and within the states which is not evaluated and rectified on a full scale.[3] The current study was carried out in a tertiary level teaching hospital in Tumkur District of Karnataka to determine the immunization status of children under 5 years of age and the factors affecting the failure of immunization Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 160 under five children visiting a tertiary care centre, Tumkur from the month of May 2023 to June 2023. Convenient sampling method was incorporated. Pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The data was analysed using Epi-Info TM version 7.2.1. Results: Out of 160 children,78.75% were Immunised till date 21.25% were partially immunised. No child was unimmunised. The coverage of vaccines was highest for BCG (BacilleCalmette Guerin) (98.75%) and lowest for OPV (oral Polio vaccine)-booster and DPT (Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus)-booster (57.51%). The most common reasons for partial immunisation were low birth weight (67.65%), unaware about the need for immunisation (17.65%), no belief on immunisation (11.76%) and home deliver (2.94%). Various factors were used to assess the immunisation status of the children and it was found that children belonging to nuclear family had better immunisation status when compared with children belonging to a joint family and this was statistically significant.

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