CONSUMERS' BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS EXPANDED PROGRAMME OF IMMUNIZATION

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that impede the utilisation of the services of the expanded programme of immunization, and make recommendations in the light of the findings as to the strategies for implementing an educational programme for the E.P.I. (expanded programme of immunization). In order to investigate these factors, a number of hypothesis provided an anchor for analysis. Also two models were used to help put these gamuts of ideas and studies into a meaningful and proper perspective. These are the health ballot models of Irvin Rosenstock 1966 and his colleague Becker (1974); and Green's Health educational model (1976). Mothers (consumer) who had children since the inception of the expanded programme of immunization services in May 1976 in Ayedade community (made up of Ikire, Apomu and Ikoyi) of Oyo State were interviewed. By the use of questionnaires containing both structured and open ended questions, information was gathered on consumers' knowledge, attitude and practices towards the programme. Information was also gathered by the researcher through observation at the the health centre and oral interview of the Health personnel as well as the Chief Health Officer for the Oyo State. In the administration of the questionnaire, the multistage sampling technique was employed and the final sampling units were mothers who had children since the inception of the programme in May 1976. The data gathered and analysed by means of chi-square percentage, biserial correlation coefficient, and analysis of variance (F-value) point to a situation that behavioural problems exist among the consumers that affect their appropriate utilization of the free child immunization services. These behavioural problems have three major antecedents which are predisposing factors (poor knowledge of the programme, negative attitude, and perception); enabling factors (non-availability of enough immunization centres and vaccines, unsuitability of inmmunization days to some consumers, social inaccessibility of immunization to some consumers because of the attitude of the health worker) and reinforcing factor (non-belief in the efficacy of the immunization vaccines and the poor attitude of some health personnel to duty). In this study, there are three categories of respondents; consumers who took their children for complete immunization (34%); consumers with incomplete immunization for their children (defaulters) (10%) and potential consumers who did not take their children for immunization (56%). In the light of the findings, educational strategies such as more effective communication with consumers to influence their knowledge, attitude, belief, and norms; community organisation activities designed to influence the voluntary adjustment of resources to make health services more accessible were recommended. Other recommendations included staff activities such as continuing education, designed to influence the attitude and behaviour of providers towards clients.