Abstract:
Background: Immunization is an effective public health intervention to reduce morbidity and
mortality among children. However, immunization will become more effective if the child can
receive the full course of recommended immunization doses according to the schedule. There is
still, 2.5 million children die by vaccine preventable disease every year in developing countries. In Ethiopia, there is a high rate of immunization defaulters, and the study's context does not
adequately investigate the determinants that contribute to immunization defaulters. Objective: To identify the determinants of immunization defaulters among children aged 12 to
23 months in Ambo town, Oromia, Ethiopia: A case control study 2021. Method: a community-based unmatched case-control study was done from October 1 to 25, 2021. Prior to data collection, mothers or caregivers with 12 to 23 month old children in all
kebeles of three urban and three rural Ambo towns were surveyed to determine who completed
their vaccines on time (control) and who did not (case), and finally, simple random sampling was
used to select 317 (106 cases and 211controls). Data was collected by using a pretested and
structured questionnaire. Then, they were coded and entered to Epi-data version 3.1 and then
transported to SPSS Window version 21.0 for statistical analysis. Descriptive analysis like
frequency and percentage were calculated. Also, binary logistic regression analysis was done, and independent variables with a p-value < 0.25 were entered into a multiple logistic regression
model. Finally, independent variables with a p value < 0.05 were considered as they had a
statistically significant determinant with the dependent variable. Results: Of all assessed determinants rural residences (AOR = 3.538 [95%:CI= (1.798,6.963])
farmer by occupation (AOR = 1.162, [95% CI = (0.066,2.397)]), family member greater than
three (AOR = 4.110, [95% CI = (1.421,11.886)], not attending ANC(AOR =0..237, [95% CI =
(0.107,0.525]) and not attending PNC(AOR =2.363, [95% CI = (1.169,4.774)]) were statistically
significant determinant factors to immunization defaulters. Conclusion and recommendation:- In this study, the mother’s rural residences, being a farmer
by occupation, not attending ANC and PNC, and family size were some of the independent
determinants of childhood immunization defaulters. Improving ANC, PNC, and caretaker
income should be the expected measure to reduce childhood immunization defaulter
