Prevalence and Factors Associated with Zero-Dose Children amongst Nomadic and Non-Nomadic Fulani in Yobe State, North-East Nigeria

Main Article Content

Usman Muhammad Ibrahim
Dauda Abdulhamid
Boateng Kofi
Mahdi Musa Wade
Abba Ahmed Danzomo
Sunday Audu
Nuruddeen Muhammad
Faruk Abdullahi Namadi
Usman Lawal Shehu
Rabiu Ibrahim Jalo
Fatimah Ismail Tsiga-Ahmed
Serawit Lisanework
Murtala Jibril
Awwal Umar Gajida
Abubakar Mohammed Jibo

Keywords

Nomads and non-nomads, Fulani, Prevalence, Zero-dose, Vaccine hesitancy, Yobe

Abstract

Background: Immunization is a very cost-effective and readily available intervention capable of preventing Vaccines Preventable Diseases (VPDs). This study aimed to identify and compare the prevalence and factors associated with zero-dose immunization status among children of nomadic and non-nomadic Fulani in Yobe State, North-East Nigeria.


Methodology: A comparative cross-sectional design was used to study 348 nomadic, and 345 non-nomadic under-five children, selected using a multi-staged sampling technique. Data were collected using interviewer administered questionnaire, observation of child immunization card, and recall by the caregivers, and were analysed using IBM SPSS version 22.0 with a statistical significance set at P ≤5%.


Results: The maximum age of the nomadic caregivers was 60 and the minimum was 17 years with a mean ± SD of 28.2±7.7 years. The maximum age of the non-nomadic caregivers was 78 and the minimum was 17 years with a mean ±SD of 33.0±10.0 years. The prevalence of zero-dose children among nomadic and non-nomadic Fulani were (70.1%, 242), (61.8%, 63) respectively. The zero-dose children were significantly higher among nomads (87.2%, p<0.001) and non-nomad (54.4%, p<0.001) with no available child immunization card. The children of vaccines hesitant caregivers of nomads and non-nomads were 10 or more times more likely to be zero dose than non-hesitant caregivers (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] =477, 95% CI = [177–13031]), and (Adjusted odds ratio [aOR] =9.7, 95% CI = [2.1–44.3]) respectively.


Conclusions: The burden of zero-dose was alarmingly high among nomads compared to non-nomad Fulani despite widespread immunization outreach services in the study area. The government and relevant stakeholders should intensify Context-specific health promotion activities and outreach services targeting these underserved populations.

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