A Comparative Study on the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Mothers towards Children Immunization in Barangay Poblacion West and Malubibit Norte, Flora, Apayao, Philippines

Abstract

Childhood immunization is a critical public health intervention available for preventing childhood morbidity and mortality. However, UNICEF reported in 2020, that vaccination coverage in the Philippines has dropped dramatically; thus, this study aims to provide comparative data on mothers' knowledge, attitude, and practices towards children immunization in barangay Malubibit Norte having the highest data of fully immunized children and barangay Poblacion West with the lowest recorded data of fully immunized children. This study utilized a comparative research design to describe the profile of the respondents, their knowledge, attitude and practices on child immunization. Two hundred thirty-two (232) mothers were identified as respondents of this study by using stratified random sampling. It was discovered that in Barangay Poblacion West, the records of having the least number of fully immunized children were due to uncontrolled hindrances, which were the child is not feeling well during their scheduled vaccination and had a severe allergic reaction after vaccine administration. It was also found out that the overall mean score of mothers KAP from the two barangays are knowledgeable towards children immunization with positive attitude and good practice. Level of knowledge when grouped to their profile, vaccine benefit was influenced by religion. In relation to the level of attitude and practices, it was influenced by marital status, educational attainment, attended seminars, nature of work, religion, source of income, type of family, comorbidities of the mother, maintenance medication, and compliance to medication. Findings also showed that there is no significant relationship between Attitude and Practices of Mothers towards Child Immunization of both barangays and that there is no significant relationship between the Knowledge with that of Attitude and Practices of the mothers towards Child Immunization of both barangays.