Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception of Mothers of Under-Five Children Toward Childhood Routine Immunization Programme in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Nigeria

Background: Despite global advancements in immunization, Nigeria continues to face challenges in achieving optimal childhood vaccination coverage. Maternal knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) play a pivotal role in immunization uptake, yet there remains a paucity of data examining these factors in urban settings like Abuja. Methods: We conducted a facility-based cross-sectional study among 281 mothers of under-five children attending Primary Healthcare Centers in AMAC, Abuja. Using a structured questionnaire, we assessed sociodemographic characteristics and KAP regarding routine childhood immunization. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20, employing descriptive statistics, chi-square tests for associations, and binary logistic regression to identify predictors of immunization outcomes. Results: The majority of respondents (61.9%) were aged 25-34 years, married (97.2%), and had secondary (47.7%) or tertiary (38.4%) education. While 94.7% recognized vaccination's importance, significant gaps existed: 37.4% were unaware of specific vaccines, and 13.2% perceived vaccines as dangerous. Higher maternal education (χ=32.25, p<0.001) and household income ≥ #200,000 (aOR=6.51, p=0.007) strongly predicted better vaccine knowledge. Although 97.2% maintained immunization cards and followed schedules, 53% reported cost as a barrier to supplementary vaccines. Lower-income mothers (#100,000-#200,000) showed significantly reduced odds of positive vaccine perception (aOR=0.09, p=0.025). Conclusion: Our findings reveal generally positive maternal KAP towards immunization in AMAC, but identify crucial socioeconomic disparities in vaccine knowledge and financial barriers to complete vaccination. Targeted interventions should prioritize health education for less-educated mothers and consider subsidizing non-routine vaccines to improve coverage.