Abstract:

This article evaluates the effect of cultural beliefs on the effective utilization of immunization on childhood killer diseases among parents living in some remote areas in Kuje Area Council in FCT. Relevant cultural factors hindering effective utilization of immunization were discovered; likewise, Universal immunization of children against six preventable diseases (tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, and measles) is crucial to diminish childhood mortality and morbidity across the world. Improving access to and utilization of routine immunization services are the best option for the prevention and control of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD). The expanded program on immunization (EPI) was launched in 1994 as a global program for controlling and reducing death from vaccine-preventable diseases. A recent report from the world health organisation (WHO) revealed that the number of children under one year of age who did not receive the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (DTP3) worldwide was estimated to be 21.8 million in 2013 compared to 22.8 million in 2012. Three hundred and eighty-four (384) questionnaires were administered to parents using the house to house strategy in the Kuje community. Of those surveyed, (30.2%) had basic education, and the level of illiteracy could have contributed greatly to noncompliance. (80.2%) believed that only immunization can protect children against childhood killer diseases, while (19.8%) disagreed. (32.0%) believed that immunization could lead to HIV infection, (30.5%) of the respondents assumed that immunization causes a child to be sterile and (20.6%) agreed that immunization is forbidden by God, while (16.9%) believed that it causes some mental, spiritual, and physical deformity in children.

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