OBJECTIVES : To asses the influence of education to parents towards completion of vaccination as per Expanded Program of Immunization

METHODS : This study was conducted for a period of 2 years at Pediatric department of JSS Hospital, Myuru, India. Parents visiting study site with a child of at least 6 weeks of age was the inclusion criteria of the study. Enrolled parents were randomized using simple randomization method into intervention and control group after taking the informed consent. Baseline knowledge, attitude and Practice was assessed for both the groups using a validated questionnaire. Intervention group received a structured education and a leaflet on their first visit whereas the control group received only the leaflet. During second visit , test group received the follow-up education and the control group did not receive any intervention. During third visit, KAP was reassessed for both groups. All the enrolled parents were followed until their child became one year two months of age without any further intervention. Paired t-test analysis was performed to compare the pre and post knowledge, attitude, practice and total KAP.

RESULTS : A statistically significant improvement in the knowledge (p 0.001), attitude (p 0.001) and total score (p 0.001) was observed amongst the intervention group parents. whereas the difference was not statistically significant. Parents in control group complete the 9 months and one year vaccination with an average deviation of 7 and 5 days where as in control group, an average deviation of 27 days was observed for 9 months vaccination and 21% of parents failed vaccinate their children for one year vaccination at the end of the study.

CONCLUSIONS : The personalized education to the parents by an HCP is a very useful strategy to make the complete immunization of children in the community.