Timely vaccination and its associated factors among parents with children aged from 0-23 months in Wolaita Zone Public hospitals, southern Ethiopia, 2024: a facility-based cross-sectional study

Abstract Background In Ethiopia, vaccination is mentioned as the vital preventive measure of undue childhood mortality from measles, pneumonia, diarrheal diseases, and other VPDs. Although there are studies conducted on full vaccine coverage, there is relatively no data available about timely vaccination and its related factors in southern Ethiopia. Thus, this study assessed timely vaccination and related factors in children who age from 0 to 23 months in the study area. Methods and material: An institution-based cross-sectional study was undertaken in Wolaita zone Public hospitals, from December 2023, G.C to January 2024, G.C. A total of 376 study subjects were randomly selected through systematic sampling method among parents with children who are 0–23 months old. Data were gathered by questionnaire with a structure which was based on mother’s recalling as well as vaccination cards. A basic questionnaire was completed by respondents and the responses were entered into Epidata Version 4.6, which was later transferred to SPSS Version 23 for analysis. Data were entered into Epidata Version 4.6 and exported to SPSS Version 23 for analysis. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) along with a 95% confidence interval at a P-value less than 0.05 was used to declare significance level. Results A total of 376 study participants responded to the interview with 100% response rate. This study found that 269 children (71.5%) were timely vaccinated and 107 children (28.5%) had not got their children vaccinated timely. The independent variables, like time to reach the health facilityAOR = 5.7; 95% CI (1.81,17.55), place of delivery[AOR = 4.91; 95% CI (2.85, 10.83), ANC follow-upAOR = 8; 95% CI (5.81, 25.01), attitudeAOR = 2.5; 95% CI (1.23,4.3) and knowledge AOR = 3.45; 95% CI (1.61, 10.62) on the vaccine time, significantly attributed to timely vaccination. Conclusion 71.5% of study participants vaccinated their children on the national recommended vaccination schedule. The research also revealed statistical correlation between time taken from home to health facility, antenatal care follow up, place of delivery, maternal attitude and knowledge of the prompt vaccination and vaccination timeline. For the all stake holders, highly strategic interventions like promoting maternal knowledge about the benefits versus risks of timely vaccination, community-based vaccination programs or campaigns, routine supervision, and counseling during antenatal visits are very effective ways of improving timely vaccination.