ASSOCIATION OF MATERNAL KNOWLEDGE AND HEALTH SERVICE TO IMMUNIZATION STATUS OF MYANMAY MIGRANT CHILDREN AGED 1-2 YESRS IN TAK PROVINCE THAILAND

Abstract

Immunization is one of the most powerful and cost effective protections in child survival technology. According to Tak Provincial Health Office data, the total migrant was approximately 200,000 living in four Thai-Myanmar border districts that could not fully access to health services and presented lower than global Expand Program on Immunization (EPI) standard coverage (90%) as well as reporting of vaccine preventable disease. To improve immunization coverage and service in these context, the study aimed to describe the association of maternal knowledge and health services of Myanmar migrant children aged 1-2 years in Tak and determine the coverage of under 1 year routine immunization (BCG , HBV, OPV,DTP and MCV (MMR) including the coverage of each type of the vaccines. A study was conducted by using a structured questionnaire and interviewed 386 Myanmar migrant mothers living in four Thai – Myanmar border district. The result found that district, occupation, place of delivery, level of knowledge regarding immunization, source of information, content of information, language barrier of receiving information, health education and its content during immunization service were significantly associate (p<0.05) with immunization status of children. The overall coverage of under 1 year routine immunization was 56.7% ; by types of vaccine BCG, HBV at birth , first , second and third dose of OPV/DTP/HBV combine vaccine and MMR were 98.4%, 82.9%, 95.1%, 82.4%, 68.4%, 66.1% which is lower compared to immunization coverage of Thailand. The overall EPI coverage among Myanmar migrant age 1-2 years living in the study area still lower than global EPI standard coverage especially OPV3/DTP3/HBV3 and MMR. Knowledge regarding vaccine side effect and content in local migrant language should be introduced. Local service providers and private agencies need to aware of appropriate approach and services to differences characteristic in order to strengthen EPI program.