Knowledge, attitude and practice of the caregivers regarding immunization in under-5 children in rural Bihar, India

ABSTRACT Background: The perception of caregivers on immunization is of paramount importance to combat -childhood morbidity, mortality and disability. Objective: This study was conducted to find knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of caregivers on immunization of under-5 aged children of rural Bihar. Method: A mixed-methods study was conducted at the outpatients departments of rural medical college from November 2023 to October 2024 among 384 caregivers of under-5 children using a pretested questionnaire to evaluate KAP on immunization. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented with categorical variables. Results: Significant proportion (94.8%) of caregivers showed a positive mindset regarding immunization as safe and essential for kids. Important challenges to complete immunization included lack of awareness, remoteness to healthcare facilities, and false belief about adverse effects following immunization; majority of caregivers were literate (79.2%) and homemakers (85.9%). Majority (89.1%) of the children received all mandatory childhood vaccines, while 9.4percent were partially immunized. Discrepancies in knowledge were noticeable; typically (90.1%) caregivers were unaware of disease prevented by BCG vaccine. ASHA workers and Anganwadi centers served as the primary sources of immunization information to caregivers. Sociodemographic factors, viz., literacy and socioeconomic status, were found to be significant determinants of immunization coverage. Conclusions: Our study noted that caregivers mostly had positive standpoint amid limitation of knowledge on advantages of immunization from poverty and illiteracy. These findings will definitely be beneficial for Practitioners of Family Medicine and Primary care givers.