Factors Affecting The Implementation Of Immunization

1.3 Research Objectives

The general objective or main objective of this study is to examine the factors affecting the implementation of immunization in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. The specific objectives are:

i) To understand the factors affecting the implementation of immunization in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.

ii) To identify the problem of immunization in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.

iii) To understand the attitudes of parents toward immunizing their children in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.

1.4 Research Questions

The following are some of the questions which this study intends to answer:

i) What are the factors affecting the implementation of immunization in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State?

ii)  What are the problems of immunization in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State?

iii) What are the attitudes of parents toward immunizing their children in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State?

1.5   Significance of the study

The findings of this study are of great significance to immunization program managers and policy makers in geographical areas with large rural populations. It provides a basis for rational interventions to improve vaccine delivery in primary healthcare facilities, improve vaccination coverage indices and reduce the burden of childhood infectious diseases. The results are of benefit to the county health management team by providing actionable information relevant for planning and policy making to improve delivery of childhood vaccines in the county. This study contributes to the broader literature addressing how to improve implementation of childhood immunization programs in rural areas by providing an empirical analysis of challenges faced by program implementers. Specifically, this study seeks to contribute to the literature related to the identification of intervention targets for increasing the effectiveness of immunization programs in primary healthcare facilities in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria.

1.6   Assumptions of the Study

This study investigates the factors affecting the implementation of immunization in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. It will therefore be carried out in the four regions (north, south, east and west) of the local government area.

1.7   Limitations of the Study

Health care institutions always have very busy schedules and work in shifts. This was seen as one of the limitations of identifying appropriate time periods to administer surveys. This was addressed by obtaining phone contacts of health facility managers and scheduling interview dates ahead of time. The study might have also been affected by the way respondents would answer questions in the data collection tool, they could have chosen answers that are socially desirable to be seen as performing well.

1.8   Definition of Terms

The following terms were used in the course of this study:

Immunization: is the process by which an individual's immune system is stimulated through exposure to an immunogenic agent known as vaccine (a substance that stimulates the immune system is said to be immunogenic)

Implementation: Is a specified set of activities designed to put a plan or strategy into practice. In this study, it refers to the set of activities put together in the immunization program to ensure that children are vaccinated and thereby increase immunization coverage.

Immunization programs: is a set of activities designed to ensure all eligible children and women. In a specific location receive timely vaccination and become immunized against specific vaccine-preventable diseases. The programs include childhood immunization and maternal immunization.

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