Role of maternal health-seeking behaviour on complete measles vaccination coverage in Bangladesh: evidence from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and contributing factors of complete measles vaccination with key attention to maternal health-seeking behaviour. DESIGN: The study used secondary data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2017-2018, which was a cross-sectional study. SETTING: Data extracted from the BDHS 2017-2018 dataset. It is the latest available nationally representative dataset containing measles vaccination data. PARTICIPANTS: The sample comprised 2651 children aged 15-59 months in Bangladesh. OUTCOME MEASURES: tests, and stepwise binary logistic regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of complete (first dose at 9 months and second dose at 15 months or later) measles vaccination coverage was 80% among Bangladeshi children. Complete measles vaccination coverage was significantly higher among babies of mothers who had completed at least an antenatal visit (AOR 1.71, p<0.001), undergone an institutional delivery process (AOR 1.36, p=0.017), and completed at least one postnatal visit (AOR 1.27, p=0.050). In addition, maternal health-seeking factors, notably educated mothers (secondary educated: AOR 2.34, p<0.001; higher secondary and above AOR 2.58, p<0.001), had more vaccination coverage for their children. However, children living in urban areas had significantly lower vaccination coverage (AOR 0.68, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The study recommends strengthening the complete measles vaccination coverage in Bangladesh, which is still behind the target. Specific measures should be taken to increase antenatal care and postnatal care coverage and provide institutional delivery facilities. The study's findings would contribute to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals for children's health in Bangladesh by mitigating measles-related morbidity and mortality.