Sociodemographic Factors and Maternal Knowledge of Childhood Vaccination in Nigeria
Authors:   PhD Department of Health, Wellbeing & Social Care, Global Banking School, Oxford Brookes University, Birmingham, United Kingdom, Kennedy Obohwemu Oberhiri ,   and PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom, Joyce Idomeh Eberechukwu ,   PhD Department of Social Works (DSW), College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Bedford Park Campus, Sturt Road, Bedford Park 5042, South Australia, Chauhan Rupali ,   MPH Department of Health, Wellbeing & Social Care, Global Banking School, Oxford Brookes University, Manchester, United Kingdom
Published: January 2025

Childhood vaccination is globally recognized as one of the most cost-effective public health interventions to reduce child mortality, particularly in regions burdened by vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) such as measles, polio, and tuberculosis. Despite the availability of free routine vaccination services in Nigeria, suboptimal vaccination coverage persists, and maternal knowledge plays a critical role in this challenge. While much attention has been focused on the role of attitudes and practices in influencing vaccine uptake, less is known about the specific impact of socio-demographic factors on maternal knowledge of the vaccination schedule, particularly in urban areas like Ughelli, Nigeria. This study seeks to fill this gap by examining the socio-demographic determinants of maternal knowledge about childhood vaccination in Ughelli North Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta, Nigeria.

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 321 mothers residing in Ughelli North LGA, utilizing a structured and pre-tested questionnaire designed to assess maternal knowledge of vaccination schedules and key vaccines for children. The study explored the association between socio-demographic factors such as age, educational level, employment status, ethnicity, and the level of maternal knowledge about childhood vaccination. Data were collected using an online survey and analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics to identify patterns and associations.

The study revealed that, despite high levels of educational attainment among participants (88.8% had tertiary education), 87.5% of the respondents demonstrated poor knowledge of the full vaccination schedule, especially concerning vaccines required beyond the age of two. Socio-demographic variables, including ethnicity, employment status, and education, were not significantly associated with vaccination knowledge (p>0.05), indicating that even mothers with higher education levels exhibited gaps in specific vaccination knowledge. These results suggest that maternal education alone is not a sufficient predictor of comprehensive vaccination knowledge in this context.

This study makes an original contribution to the body of knowledge by highlighting the disconnect between general education and specific health knowledge regarding childhood vaccination. While many studies have established positive links between socio-demographic factors and overall vaccine attitudes or practices, this research uniquely focuses on knowledge of the vaccination schedule, identifying critical gaps that exist independently of attitudes or socio-economic status. The findings emphasize the need for tailored health education interventions that go beyond general literacy and target the specifics of vaccine schedules and timing, particularly for vaccines administered after infancy.