Assessment of EPI (expanded program of immunization) vaccine coverage in a peri-urban area.

Objective: To determine the age-appropriate EPI coverage of under one year old children and Tetanus Toxoid (TT) coverage of their mothers (15-49 years) in peri-urban Karachi and to determine the factors associated with low coverage.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out by utilizing WHO thirty-cluster sampling technique, seven households with infants, were randomly selected per cluster. Child's mother was interviewed by using a structured pre-tested questionnaire, regarding the EPI coverage of her child, her own TT coverage and other demographic and potential risk factors for low vaccination coverage.

Results: Forty five percent of the infants were age-appropriately vaccinated. The TT coverage of mothers for the index pregnancy was 57.3% for both doses of the vaccine. In the multivariate model four factors i.e., type of house construction (proxy indicator of socio-economic status), mother's TT vaccination status, years since marriage and parents' educational status were found to be significantly associated with children's immunization status.

Conclusions: We concluded that the EPI coverage of Gadap town, Karachi is quite low. Education of both parents plays a significant role in child's immunization coverage. Improving the educational status of parents can potentially improve the immunization coverage.