PROPORTION OF COMPLETE TETANUS TOXOID IMMUNIZATION STATUS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT MOTHERS WHO ATTENDING ANC AT WOLKITE TOWN HEALTH CENTERS, GURAGE ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA, 2023.

Abstract

Background: Tetanus is a vaccine preventable, non- communicable infectious disease. And also, it is an acute, potentially fatal disease that is characterized by generalized increased rigidity and convulsive spasms of skeletal muscles. It is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Clostridium tetani. The main strategy to prevent the disease is immunization with protective dose of tetanus toxoid vaccine. But globally, maternal and neonatal tetanus is a public health problem due to low maternal tetanus toxoid vaccination. Ethiopia has highest neonatal mortality and morbidity related to tetanus in the world due to low tetanus toxoid immunization coverage. Objective: To assess the proportion of complete tetanus toxoid immunization status and associated factors among pregnant mothers who attending ANC at wolkite town health centers, Gurage zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2023.Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted on July 2023 on pregnant mothers who attending ANC at Wolkite town health centers. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select the sample of 237 women. Data was collected through face-to-face interview with semi-structured questionnaires. The data was entered and analysis was done by using SPSS version 25. Binary logistic regression analysis models were used to assess the association between dependent and independent variables.Result: A total of 237 women were interviewed with a response rate of 92.8%. The results of the study showed 20% of respondents were received complete TT vaccine. Variables including:secondary school [(AOR 0.043, 95% CI (0.007-0.271)], >4 ANC visits [(AOR 3.589, 95% CI (1.288-10.005)], health workers respectful [(AOR 0.115, 95% CI (0.037-0.359)] and feeling about the distance [(AOR 17.551, 95% CI (5.137-59.964)] were found to be predictors of receive complete doses of TT.Conclusion: The study revealed that relatively low. The results of the study showed 20% of respondents were received complete TT vaccine. In this study was found to be analogues as compared to studies conducted in other parts of Ethiopia like Shashemene. Factors like educational status of the mother, number of ANC, their feeling about the distance of nearest health center and health workers respectfulness were among those were significantly associated with proportion of complete tetanus toxoid immunization