Uptake of Measles-Rubella Vaccine among Pastoralist Children in Kajiado West Sub-County, Kenya

Vaccination programs are essential for preventing the spread of infectious diseases and protecting public health. Despite significant global progress, challenges remain, including reduced vaccine uptake rates. This study investigated uptake of the measles-rubella vaccine among pastoralist children in Kajiado West Sub-County, Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to collect data from a representative sample of the target population at a single point in time. The study targeted children under 2 years old in Keekonyokie and Iloodokilani Wards, with a total target population of 13,776 children. The sample size was 422 mothers, selected through stratified random sampling. Additionally, 30 healthcare providers were included using convenience sampling. Data was collected using structured questionnaires for mothers and key informant interviews with healthcare providers. Quantitative data was coded in Excel and analyzed using SPSS version 27 for descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis with MAXQDA. Less than three-quarters (69.2%) of the participants received Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine in the scheduled period of 9 months, whereas a paltry 39.0% received the vaccine at 18 months. A high percentage (71.5%) of the respondents were knowledgeable about Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine. In terms of attitude, more than average of the participants (60.5%) had a positive attitude towards MR vaccine. The findings of this study contributed to understanding the barriers and drivers of measles-rubella vaccine uptake among pastoralist communities in Kajiado West Sub-County.