18. Tetanus Toxoid (TT-2) Coverage & its Associated Socio-demographic Factors among Married Women of Reproductive Age in Urban & Slum Areas of Hyderabad
1. Rafique Ahmed Soomro 2. Khalida Naz Memon 3. Syed Murtaza Ali
1. Prof. of Community Medicine, LNMC, Karachi 2. Assoc. Prof. of Community Medicine, LUMHS, Jamshoro,
Sindh 3. Deputy Director, Institute of Physiotherapy, PUMHS, Nawabshah, Sindh
ABSTRACT
Background: Neonatal tetanus is vaccine preventable infection & a cause of neonatal mortality in our country. TTvaccination of women at child bearing age can safeguard women & reduce neonatal mortality.
Objectives: To assess the TT-2 coverage among women at reproductive age in Hyderabad urban & slum areas. To determine the socio-demographic risk factors influencing the TT-vaccination coverage. Study Design: A community based cross sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Hyderabad city areas (Gari Khata, Noorani Basti), Latifabad Unit No: 5, 11, 12 & Qasimabad (Phase I, Sehrish Nagar, Nasim Nagar) from 15th June-15th August 2014.
Materials and Methods: 220 women of child bearing age were approached through convenience sampling. Questionnaire based interviews & examining the vaccination cards were study tools. Data comprised of categorical & continuous variables & was analyzed by SPSS Version 16. Categorical variables were analyzed by chi-square test; mean & standard deviation was calculated for continuous variables & were analyzed by applying student t-test.
The p-value ≤ 0.05 was taken as level of significance for associations.
Results: TT-2+ coverage was 40.9 percent; 29.1% women were not ever TT-vaccinated. Significant associations were observed between TT-2 coverage & ante-natal visits (p=0.04), educational level (p=0.05), socio-economic class (p=0.02) & women’s working status (p=0.01), Age & parity were not associated (p= 0.09 & 0.31 respectively). Most common reason for non-vaccination was unawareness about TT-vaccination schedule (30.5%).
Conclusions: Low TT-2 coverage in slum areas of Hyderabad demands attention of health care providers to help improve the situation.
Key Words: Tetanus toxoid, child-bearing age, antenatal visits, parity, urban, slum areas.