Abstract:
Immunization helps in building a resistant immune system against disease causing agents. It is a channel which was extremely verified to control and eradicate life-threatening infectious disease. Increasing number of children are being recorded to have not been immunized and emergence of previously controlled childhood illnesses have been reported.
Qualitative descriptive exploratory research design was conducted to explore the experiences of parents towards their children’s immunizations. Thematic analysis of the responses of 17 key informants revealed four themes which describes the experiences of mothers towards their children’s childhood immunizations. The themes included perspectives of parents on immunization, facilitating factors that influence their decisions to let their children be immunized, challenges experienced and, and impacts of immunization as observed by parents.
Collectively, descriptions on the vaccines and immunizations were appropriate and were regarded to provide protection and prevention against diseases. Yet, some misinformation about it were still revealed. Husbands and grandparents were considered key facilitators influencing decisions of mothers towards immunizations. Health workers and advertisements were key sources of information about immunizations. Experienced delays on the immunization of their children were notably due to the current pandemic, difficulties in transportation, out-of-stock vaccines, once a week schedule of vaccination and work schedule of the parents. The role of health workers specially the nurses in promoting immunization remains a key in addressing the immunization delays.
