TRENDS OF IMMUNIZATION STATUS OF THE CHILDREN AND WOMEN ATTENDING AN URBAN DIARRHEA HOSPITAL IN BANGLADESH

Since October 1988 the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Research, B angladesh has been offering immunisations to children less than 2 year s old and women of reproductive age (15 to 45 years) who report for tr eatment at its Dhaka-based treatment centre. A survey conducted during October 1989 to June 1992 has revealed that 22.5% of these targeted c hildren (n = 4,456) and 21.7% of the women (n = 5,266) had not receive d any immunisations. Only 23.2% of the children has completed an immun isation schedule, whereas 70.1% of the women had received 2 doses of t etanus toxoid. The percentage of women receiving both doses of tetanus toxoid vaccine increased significantly from 55.2% to 80.5% during the survey period (Chi Square = 9.47, p = 0.002). However, the percentage of children receiving all doses of vaccines against the six communica ble diseases increased only from 15.8% to 23.4% (Chi Square = 1.13, p = 0.29) during the reporting period. Our observation shows that it is possible to cover a significant percentage of women with at least 2 do ses of tetanus toxoid vaccine. However, immunisation services need to be intensified utilising all the health centres to improve immunisatio n coverage for the children.