Abstract:

Introduction: Immunization is an important public health intervention aimed at reducing child mortality and morbidity in line with the fourth goal of the Millennium Development Goals. It is an important means for controlling vaccine preventable doses among under five children. World Health Organization recommends that all children should receive full immunization by the age of two years to boost their immunity. Although immunization coverage has improved significantly over the past four decades, about one-fifth of the world’s children still fail to receive full doses of the standard antigens, majority of who are natives of the African region. In Tanzania, empirical studies on immunization coverage do not provide detailed information about immunization coverage barriers and key determinants at the community level.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to determine barriers to full immunization coverage among under-five year’s children at Nyamagana district in Mwanza region.

Methodology:The study applied a cross-sectional survey design, 115 mothers were interviewed, both quantitative and qualitative methods were applied. Primary data will was sourced from care takers of under-five children attending at Nyamagana RCH clinic. , Data analyzed by SPSS 20.0 version and interpreted.

Results: Most of the mothers in our study 101/115 (87.8%) do understand the importance of immunization except they face some challenges from health care workers, distance to the clinic and some fear of vaccine adverse effect.