ASSESSMENT OF PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE OF ANTENATAL CARE AND CHILDHOOD IMMUNISATION SERVICES IN ZAMFARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Efforts have been made over the years to improve uptake of antenatal care (ANC) and childhood immunisation services, lack of knowledge of the essential components of the services constitutes a major challenge to many parents in accessing the services in Nigeria. This study examined the parental knowledge about ANC and childhood immunisation services in Zamfara State. Based on theoretical orientation of Health Seeking Behavior developed by Anderson, Mixed Methods were used for the study. A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 382 parents selected through multistage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis of the quantitative data using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while ATLASti8 software was used for qualitative data analysis. The study found that most of the respondents were aware of the existence of ANC and childhood immunisation programs but lacked the knowledge of basic essential components of the services. Knowledge about 8 ANC visits was relatively very low among the respondents irrespective of place of residence. It was discovered that with exception of doses of vaccines that children under-fives receive at birth and at six weeks, more than 80% of the respondents had no knowledge that children under the age of five get inoculated at 10 and 14 weeks, as well as at six, nine, twelve, and fifteen months of age. The study recommends enlightenment programs through the social media, radio and television stations as well as healthcare facilities educating parents about specific ANC and childhood immunisation services that are received including the timing and doses.