A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PLANNED TEACHING PROGRAMME ON KNOWLEDGE REGARDING IMPORTANCE OF IMMUNIZATION IN UNDER 5 YEARS CHILDREN AMONG MOTHERS IN SELECTED RURAL AREA OF INDORE M.P.

Abstract

Immunization is a key to child survival. Missing Routine Immunization (RI) can be life-threatening for infants. Immunization is one of the most effective and cost-effective ways to protect children’s lives and futures.

Immunisation is one of the most cost-effective health investments worldwide. The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched the expanded programme on immunisation (EPI) in 1974 with the aim of immunising children throughout the world. The programme uses proven strategies, like outreach services, to ensure delivery of vaccines even to the most hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations. The worldwide implementation of this programme has resulted in more than 100 million infants being immunised each year, saving 2–3 million lives annually.

More than half of the world’s most vulnerable children still miss out on the essential vaccines they need to survive and live healthy lives. Globally, 1.5 million deaths could be avoided if children were vaccinated. Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is one of the largest public health programmes targeting close of 2.67 crore newborns and 2.9 crore pregnant women annually. It is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions and largely responsible for reduction of vaccine preventable under-5 mortality rate. Under UIP, immunization is providing free of cost against 12 vaccine preventable diseases: Nationally against 9 diseases - Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and Meningitis & Pneumonia caused by Hemophilus Influenza type B Sub-nationally against 3 diseases - Rotavirus diarrhoea, Pneumococcal Pneumonia and Japanese Encephalitis; of which Rotavirus vaccine and Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine are in process of expansion while JE vaccine is provided only in endemic districts.