Behavioral Factors Associated with the Completion of Rotavirus Vaccine Series in Children Attending Pediatric Asualty in a Public Hospital, Nairobi County, Kenya

Introduction: Rotavirus vaccines were included in routine immunization schedule in all public facilities in Kenya for free since July 2014. The purpose of our study was to establish behavioral factors associated with completion of rotavirus vaccine series.

Methods: The study population was children aged 11 weeks to 52 weeks attending the pediatric casualty. We define completion as receipt of the two doses of rotavirus vaccine doses by the 12th month of age. Health belief model (HBM) guided the study.

Results: Overall, 86.3% of the children had completed two doses of rotavirus vaccine within 12 months of birth. However, only 10% had completed within the recommended age range (10-12 weeks). There was a significant association between maternal age and knowledge of rotavirus with the completion of rotavirus vaccine series. Whereas perceived barriers were significantly associated with completion of rotavirus vaccine series, perceived threats (susceptibility, seriousness or severity of rotavirus disease) and perceived benefits of protection of the rotavirus vaccine were not. Binary regression analysis indicated that knowledge of rotavirus and perceived barriers best explained the completion of rotavirus vaccine series in children.

Conclusion: Among the HBM constructs, perceived barriers were most significant in determining completion of rotavirus vaccine series.These relationships are of interest to public health personnel because they elucidate barriers to vaccination and provide targets for health education intervention.