Level of Compliance with the Vaccination Scheme in Children Under 1 Year
TL;DR
Adherence to the vaccination schedule among children younger than one year was insufficient, highlighting the need to strengthen educational interventions for parents, improve access to vaccination services, and implement strategies that promote timely childhood immunization in primary healthcare settings.
Abstract
Background: Childhood vaccination is one of the most effective public health interventions for preventing infectious diseases and reducing infant morbidity and mortality. Despite the availability of national immunization programs, incomplete or delayed vaccination schedules remain a major challenge, particularly in low-resource settings. Parental misconceptions, vaccine hesitancy, limited access to healthcare services, and socioeconomic factors contribute to poor vaccination adherence. Objective: To determine the level of adherence to the vaccination schedule among children younger than one year of age. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted. Vaccination records from 260 children under one year of age were reviewed to evaluate adherence to the national immunization schedule. Vaccination status was classified according to predefined adherence categories based on the completeness and timeliness of the recommended vaccines. Results: Among the 260 children included, 141 (54.2%) demonstrated significant non-adherence to the vaccination schedule, whereas 119 (45.8%) showed poor adherence. Overall, adherence to the recommended immunization schedule was below expected levels. Conclusions: Adherence to the vaccination schedule among children younger than one year was insufficient. These findings highlight the need to strengthen educational interventions for parents, improve access to vaccination services, and implement strategies that promote timely childhood immunization in primary healthcare settings.