Knowledge and practice of mothers about antenatal tetanus toxoid vaccination in al-Hilla city 2015

Abstract EN

Background: Immunization remains one of the most important public health interventions and a cost effective strategy to reduce both the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases.

Uptake of vaccination services is dependent not only on provision of the services but also on other factors including knowledge and practice of women.

Objectives: To assess the knowledge and practice of mothers on antenatal tetanus vaccine in addition to their tetanus toxoid vaccination status.

Methods: Across sectional interview KAP study was conducted targeting a convenient sample of 400 Iraqi women in Al Hilla city\Iraq who attended the primary health care centers during the period 1st of February to the 30th of May 2015, mothers were interviewed to assess their knowledge and practice about Antenatal Tetanus immunization which were assessed by using a prepared questionnaires and then compared according to other variables.

Results: The study found that only 73 women (18.3%) had completed their tetanus vaccination.

And 12 women (3%), unfortunately, were unimmunized, the remaining women had incomplete tetanus toxoid vaccination.

Conclusions: Mothers had an overall good knowledge and practice about Antenatal Tetanus vaccination .

Less than one fifth of mothers had completed tetanus toxoid vaccination.

Keywords: immunization, mothers, Tetanus Toxoid, knowledge and practice.-