Impact of Conflit on Children Vaccination: Evidence from Central North, North and Sahel Regions of Burkina Faso

Background: Low immunization coverage and epidemics of vaccine-preventable diseases epidemics are a major concern in conflict-affected countries, particularly in the particularly in sub-regions most affected by conflict.  Objective: To assess the factors associated with immunization coverage among children living in insecure or conflict zones in the Central North, North and Sahel regions of Burkina Faso.  Methodology: Descriptive, cross-sectional study cross-sectional study using a questionnaire to determine the factors associated with immunization coverage of children in conflict zones in Burkina Faso. The study population consisted of mother-child pairs under two years of age.  Results: A total of 384 mother-child pairs took part in the study and more than three-quarters (84.6%) of children were aged between 6 and 12 months. Only 28.4% of children were completely vaccinated. Several factors were associated with incomplete vaccination, including the child's advanced age, the mother's young age, illiteracy, not possessing a vaccination card, inaccessibility of health services, distance from a health center, duration of the conflict, displacement of families, and loss of a family member.  Conclusions: Children in conflict zones are at higher risk of being under-immunized. The findings emphasize the importance of prioritizing targeted interventions and vaccination programs in conflict-affected areas of Burkina Faso to improve immunization coverage.