Predictors of incompletion of immunization among children residing in the slums of Kathmandu valley, Nepal: a case-control study

A study in the slums of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, reveals that 26% of children aged 12–23 months remained incompletely immunized, with measles vaccine coverage notably lower (80.5%) than BCG (95%). Key predictors of incomplete immunization included home delivery, rental housing, poor caretaker knowledge of vaccination schedules, negative perceptions about vaccinating sick children, and abscess formation post-vaccination. The research employed an unmatched case-control design, analyzing data from 236 children to identify independent risk factors using backward logistic regression. Findings suggest targeted interventions—such as reducing abscess rates, increasing follow-ups for home-born children or renters, and educating caretakers about immunization schedules and side effects—could significantly improve vaccination completion in slum settings.

Shrestha, S., Shrestha, M., Wagle, R. R., & Bhandari, G. (2016). Predictors of incompletion of immunization among children residing in the slums of Kathmandu valley, Nepal: a case-control study. BMC Public Health, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3651-3