Abstract

Adekunle Kunle-Olowu1 *, Onyi Euphemia Kunle-Olowu1 and Ugwu Moses Emeka2

The purpose of this study was to determine the coverage for immunization in the first year of life and maternal tetanus toxoid administration in the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Bayelsa State; this will help in establishing ways of improving coverage. A total of 528 were surveyed retrospectively using the immunization register, 521 (98.7%) had BCG, 512(97.0%) had OPV0, 372 had (70.5%) had OPV1/DPT1/HEPBV1, 313 (59.3%) had OPV2/DPT2/HEPBV2, while only 251(47.5%) had OPV3/DPT3/HEPBV3. Only 94(17.8%) had measles /yellow fever vaccines. However 14.3% of the surveyed children had the complete doses of vaccines. For maternal tetanus toxoid administration, a total of 601 mothers were surveyed using the antenatal and immunization registers. Out of the 601 surveyed, 151(25.2%) and 82(13.6%) had TT1 and TT2 respectively while 368 (61.2%) had both TT1 and TT2 in that pregnancy. The low immunization coverage for children may be detrimental to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goal, aimed at reducing child mortality by 2/3rd in 2015. However the immunization of mothers will contribute effectively to the elimination of neonatal tetanus.