Determinants of Noncompletion of the Third Dose of Tetanus Toxoid Vaccine in Pregnant Women in Dschang Health District, Cameroon

Abstract

Introduction. Tetanus vaccination plays an important role in the fight against neonatal mortality. Our study aimed to determine the noncompletion rate of the 3rd dose of tetanus toxoid vaccine (TTV) and to analyze the associated factors in pregnant women. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2 hospitals of Dschang Health District and targeting all women at least in their second gestation coming for antenatal consultation. Upon informed consent by the participant, a prepared questionnaire was administered. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS v22.0 with results presented in means and proportions. Logistic regression was used at two levels to identify independently associated factors for noncompletion of the third dose of TTV with a significance set at 5%. Results. A total of 380 pregnant women were recruited in this study of mean age 27 ± 5.2 yrs, 70% being married, more than 80% having at least secondary education, and 31.8% of them being students. It was noted that 172 (45.26%) of these women had not received the third dose of TTV. The analysis of the adjusted effects showed that not going to postnatal consultation (aOR = 6.75; 3.98–11.49, p<0.0001), not accompanying her baby to vaccination (aOR = 3.784; 1.803–7.942, p<0.0001), and being single (aOR = 1.87; 1.05–3.3, p=0.034) were independently associated with the above noncompletion rate. Conclusion. Tetanus vaccination coverage is not yet optimal in Dschang Health District and is associated with marital status as well as postgestational behavior of the mothers. There is thus the need to put in place strategies that will provide social support to single mothers as well as encourage women to attend postnatal consultation and to accompany their own children for vaccination. Furthermore, community-based vaccination could capture some of the lost women thus optimizing the overall vaccination coverage.