Vaccination timeliness and associated factors among children aged 12-23 months in northwest Ethiopia: community-based study

Abstract Background: vaccines are the most effective preventive and success of public health to control and eradicate serious childhood diseases. Timely childhood vaccination can help for children to develop antibody against vaccine preventable diseases. Evidences on childhood vaccination timeliness, however, there are limited in developing countries including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was aimed at assessing vaccination timeliness and associated factors among children aged 12 to 23 months in Jabitehnan district, northwest Ethiopia.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Jabitehnan district from February to March 2020. A total of 548 children aged 12-23 months were included using multi-stage and simple random sampling technique. Binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with vaccination timeliness. Adjusted odd ratio (AOR) with 95% CI and p-value less than 0.05 were used to declare statistically significant variables. Results: A total of 13.1% (95 % CI: 10.1-15.8) of children were received childhood vaccines in the recommended time interval. Higher level of maternal education (AOR: 2.73; 95% CI: 1.14-6.50), history of abortion (AOR: 3.45; 95%CI: 1.54-7.74), knowledge (AOR: 1.79; 95%CI: 1.10-3.18) and favorable attitude (AOR: 3.38; 95%CI: 1.83-6.24) were positively associated with vaccination timeliness. While home delivery (AOR: O.35; 95%CI: 0.18-0.68) and rural residence (AOR: 0.31; 95%CI: 0.14-0.65) were negatively associated. Conclusion: The overall childhood vaccination timeliness status was low in the study area. Children were received the first dose of vaccines within the recommended time relatively higher than the other doses/vaccines. Moreover, children were received measles vaccine earlier and BCG vaccine later than the acceptable time interval. Variables such as residence, maternal level of education, having history of abortion, place of delivery, knowledge and attitudes were affecting vaccination timeliness. Therefore, the policy planners and managers should give emphasis and incorporate vaccination timeliness in the childhood vaccination plan, and better to monitor and evaluate as one potential indicator to enhance the immune status of children. Health planners and managers should also improve women’s awareness to enhance their attitude towards childhood vaccination. Furthermore, it is better to promote institutional delivery service utilization to enhance childhood vaccination timeliness.