OBJECTIVES: Childhood vaccines are considered one of the most effective methods for reducing morbidity and mortality rates related to vaccine-preventable diseases. The Indonesian government has included several immunizations in its national immunization program. Nevertheless, the number of children who are entirely unvaccinated or partially immunized remains high. This study aimed to investigate the factors related to low immunization coverage among Indonesian children.
METHODS: The socio-demographic and immunization status of the children were obtained from the fifth wave of the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS). Logistic regression was performed to identify the variables associated with the completeness of childhood vaccination.
RESULTS: There were 3,657 children included in the study. According to the results, 6.5%, 28.1%, and 65.4% of the children were not immunized, partially immunized, and fully immunized, respectively. Children whose parents were older than 35 years old (AOR= 1.91 [95%CI=1.03-1.38]), had a higher level of education (AOR,2.91 [95%CI= 1.85-4.57]), living in cities (1.21 [95%CI= 1.05-1.39]), had health insurance (AOR=1.28 [95%CI= 1.11-1.47]), and came from families with a higher income (AOR 1.34 [95%CI= 1.08-166]) had significantly higher vaccination rates.
CONCLUSIONS: The chance of not being immunized was substantially correlated with socioeconomic characteristics. Policymakers may take these determinants into account to increase immunization coverage in Indonesia and achieve the government's goal for childhood immunization coverage.
