Abstract

Background: Vaccine-preventable diseases are major causes of under-5 mortality in India. As per World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, India has the largest dropout rate for three doses of DPT vaccine. Objectives: To assess the immunization coverage and vaccine dropout rates among 12 to 23 months old children of Mohanpur area, Tripura.
Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study has been conducted among 330 children of 12 to 23 months age group from Mohanpur area, under the rural field practice area of Department of Community Medicine, Agartala Government Medical College, using Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) technique for a period of one year. A pre-designed, pre-tested questionnaire has been used to collect required information with verification of immunization card and where the card is not available, by examination of scar mark or interviewing the respondent. Data has been analyzed using computer software SPSS version 21.0 and data are expressed in the form of diagrams and tables in percentages.
Results: Out of total 330 children between 12-23 months age group surveyed, 59.7% were males and 40.3% were females, and 300 (90.9%) were fully immunized, whereas 29 (8.8%) were partially immunized. This study also reveals BCG-DPT3 dropout rate to be 2.1%, BCG-Measles Dropout rate at 3.9% and DPT3-Measles dropout rate to be 1.8%. Conclusion: Higher coverage of Full immunization and lesser dropout rates for individual vaccines in our study population indicates better access to immunization services by the selected rural population of Tripura.