Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Vibha Kumar

Abstract

Immunizations are scientifically proven, effective global health interventions that prevent infectious diseases and save lives. Yet, in Mozambique at the national level, less than 65% of children are fully immunized, i.e., received all the basic/routine vaccinations. The overall purpose of the doctoral study was to conduct quantitative research examining the sociocultural factors that may impact childhood immunization status in the context of the social ecological model. The study examined the relationship between child’s gender, mother’s and her husband/partner’s educational level, household wealth index, religion, ethnicity/language, urban-rural residency, and province/region with the child’s full immunization status in Mozambique. Secondary analysis of the 2011 Mozambique Demographic and Health Survey datasets was done. Of the 8,388 children aged 12-59 months old, 62% had full immunization. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed using SPSS version 27, and the model resulted that child’s gender and urban-rural residency were not significant (p > .05); however, the independent variables mother’s educational level, husband/partner’s educational attainment, household wealth index, religion, ethnicity/language, and province/region were found to be significant (p < .05). Implications for positive social change include that the study findings may contribute to the knowledge and information that will be used to potentially further inform multifaceted communication and public health interventions that are culturally and ethnolinguistically relevant and appropriate to improve full immunization status and overall child health.

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