Determinants of Routine Immunization Uptake among Nursing Mothers Attending Primary Health Care Centres in Ilorin East Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Routine immunization is an essential intervention for preventing childhood morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases. However, incomplete immunization remains a public health concern in Nigeria. This study assessed the determinants of routine immunization uptake among nursing mothers attending Primary Health Care (PHC) Centres in Ilorin East Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 450 nursing mothers with children aged 3–24 months attending five selected PHC centres in Ilorin East Local Government Area. Participants were selected using a two-stage sampling procedure. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression at a 5% level of significance. Results: The mean age of respondents was 29.2 ± 5.3 years, and 78.7% had good knowledge of routine immunization. Overall, 73.6% of children had completed routine immunization appropriate for their age, while 21.3% had incomplete immunization and 5.1% had received no immunization. Routine immunization uptake was significantly associated with maternal age, education, household income, PHC accessibility, receipt of immunization information, vaccine availability, appointment reminders, and waiting time (p < 0.05). In the adjusted logistic regression model, significant predictors of complete immunization uptake included secondary/tertiary education (AOR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.19–2.84), household income ≥₦100,000 (AOR = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.42–3.45), accessible PHC services (AOR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.22–3.16), receipt of immunization information (AOR = 2.37; 95% CI: 1.37–4.10), regular vaccine availability (AOR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.17–3.06), appointment reminders (AOR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.09–2.68), and acceptable waiting time (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.04–2.56). Maternal age was not an independent predictor after adjustment (p = 0.061). Conclusion: Routine immunization uptake among children attending PHC centres in Ilorin East was relatively high but remained incomplete for a substantial proportion. Maternal education and household income, together with accessibility, health-worker information, vaccine availability, appointment reminders, and waiting time, were important determinants of uptake. Strengthening caregiver education, ensuring consistent vaccine availability, improving PHC accessibility and service efficiency, and expanding reminder systems may improve completion of routine childhood immunization.