Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACRTICE OF SUDANESE MOTHERS TOWARD CHILDHOOD VACCINATION, AT KHARTOUM NORTH HEATH CENTERS: SUDAN

Tahany Mohamed Osman Mohamed and *Kamal Addin Mohammad Ahmad Idris

Abstract

Background: Children's vaccination against infectious diseases is a successful and cost effective public health interventions. Maternal knowledge, attitude and practice may influence vaccination acceptance. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess Sudanese mothers‟ knowledge, attitude and practice toward childhood vaccination. Method: A descriptive cross sectional survey study was performed at four primary health centers at Khartoum North locality. A pre-structured questionnaire composed of thirty two (32) questions was used for data collection. Mothers (200) with children aged 0-5 years who attended the four primary health centers at the time of data collection were selected. Statistical Package for Social Science (version 21) was used in data analysis. Chi-Square Test was used to detect possible association between mothers‟ knowledge, attitudes and practice; and their socio-demographics characteristics. P values of 0.05 or less were considered statistically significant. Results: Mothers‟ knowledge, attitude and practice towards childhood vaccination were 51.5%, 65% and 75%, respectively. Higher mothers' educational level and low family income showed significant correlation with their knowledge about vaccination, p=0.03 and 0.05 respectively. Housewives and mothers with children aged less than 6 months, showed significant attitude toward childhood vaccination (p=0.005 and 0.003). Younger mothers, housewives, those who gave birth to 1-2 child, and those having children less than six months, had significant vaccination practice scores p=0.05, 0.05, 0.002 and 0.005, respectively. Conclusion: Respondent mothers showed poor knowledge, good attitude, and good practice scores toward vaccination. Health education interventions campaigns shall be instituted through public media to increase knowledge about vaccination.

Keywords: Khartoum North, Sudan, Mothers, Childhood, Vaccination.