Exploring the role of maternal knowledge and other determinants on childhood Immunization

Abstract Immunization is a vital component of a healthcare system and an efficient means of disease control in many countries. Maternal knowledge regarding childhood immunization is a critical factor influencing vaccination rates and children’s health. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural areas of district Saharanpur for a period of 1 year. The study comprised 510 children in the age group of 12–23 months. A predesigned semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection regarding maternal knowledge on childhood immunization. Among mothers, 36.7% had inadequate knowledge and 63.3% had adequate knowledge regarding childhood immunization. The majority of the mother’s source of knowledge was health care workers (89.8%). The findings suggest that empowering mothers through health education and community awareness programs via counselling sessions is essential to achieve optimal immunization coverage in rural areas.