How complete is infant vaccination in three West African DHS surveys?
Among 5,368 infants 0–12 months in The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, only about 15% were fully vaccinated; postnatal care raised odds, while limited ANC, no TV, and father’s primary education lowered them.
Source
Uptake and determinants of childhood vaccination status among children aged 0-12 months in three West African countries
Study at a glance
- Design
- Cross-sectional — Pooled 2019–20 DHS from The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia; multivariable logistic regression of full vaccination
- N
- N=5368 · Weighted sample of 5,368 children aged 0–12 months
- Population
- Infants 0–12 months in The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia (DHS)
- Outcome
- Full childhood vaccination (BCG, 3× pentavalent, 3× polio, measles) and its correlates
Structured fields used in claim comparison tables when every cited study has a complete layer.
What they did
Pooled 2019–20 DHS datasets (stratified two-stage cluster samples) for 5,368 weighted children 0–12 months and ran multivariable logistic models of full vs partial vaccination.
What they found
Full vaccination was 15.1% in males and 15.0% in females (urban 15.8% vs rural 14.3%). PNC visits: aOR 1.23 (1.03–1.46). Lower odds: father’s primary education aOR 0.67, household never watched TV aOR 0.68, mother 1–3 ANC visits aOR 0.59.
The limits
What it doesn't show
Cross-sectional DHS cannot prove PNC causes vaccination; 0–12-month infants may still be age-ineligible for measles, and ‘full’ status mixes countries with different schedules.
Key terms
- Full vaccination (DHS)
- BCG, three pentavalent (DPT-HepB-Hib), three polio, and measles — paper also cites a <23-month WHO framing.
- DHS
- Demographic and Health Survey household samples pooled here for three countries (2019–20).
- PNC
- Postnatal care visits; associated with higher full-vaccination odds (aOR 1.23).
- ANC
- Antenatal care; only 1–3 visits associated with lower odds versus more visits.
- aOR
- Adjusted odds ratio from the multivariable logistic model.
Flashcards
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Quiz yourself
Weighted infant N was about:
Common questions
How large was the sample?
Weighted N = 5,368 children aged 0–12 months.
What was full-vaccination prevalence?
15.1% males and 15.0% females.
What raised odds?
Maternal postnatal care visits (aOR = 1.23).
What lowered odds?
Father primary education, never watching TV, and only 1–3 ANC visits.
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