| Summary: | SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR
THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF FAMILY MEDICINE
FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND.
JOHANNESBURG 2014 === INTRODUCTION: The Under-5 Clinic in Johan Heynes Community Health Centre is always
packed and has high immunization rates (104%). Despite this, during clinical consultation, the
family physician researcher suspected that mothers were poorly informed about childhood
immunization, which immunization the child had received and symptoms of common side
effects.
OBJECTIVES: This study assessed mothers understanding of indications, benefits, adverse
effects of childhood immunization, how to catch-up on missed vaccinations, and how they
obtained information about childhood immunization.
METHODS: A cross sectional descriptive study was undertaken of all mothers attending
immunization services at the clinic. Systematic sampling of 302 mothers using face to face
interviews was done. The instrument questions were obtained from 2 similar validated studies,
adapted to suit the setting, and piloted. Data was collected from 15th November to 15th
December
2012. Data was analyzed using Epi-info.
RESULTS: Ninety seven percent of mothers brought their children for immunization because they
feared their children could develop illnesses. Seven percent of mothers knew what vaccines their
children would receive on the day of immunization and what diseases these vaccines prevent.
Nearly all mothers were given information on when to immunize their children. Fourteen percent
where given information on why they need to immunize their children.
CONCLUSION: Most mothers knew that immunization prevented certain illnesses, but did not
know which illnesses were being immunized against. Further, most mothers didn’t know about the
common side effects of childhood immunization. However, most mothers were well informed
about the timing of immunization.
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