Assessment Of Immunization And Nutritional Status: A Comparative Study Of Children 12-59 Months Of Age In Rural And Urban Communities Of Sokoto State, Nigeria
Keywords:
Immunization status, Nutritional status, Under-five childrenAbstract
Immunization and optimal nutrition are critical for child survival, yet disparities persist between rural and urban communities in low-resource settings. This study assessed and compared immunization coverage and nutritional status among children aged 12-59 months in rural and urban areas of Sokoto state, Nigeria. A cross-sectional comparative study employed multi-stage sampling to select 260 children (130 rural, 130 urban) from households. Data on socio- demographics, immunization history (verified via cards), and anthropometry (weight, height/length) were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires and standard tools. Immunization status was classified per Nigeria's National Programme on Immunization schedule; nutritional status was determined using WHO z-scores. Data were processed using IBM SPSS version 25 and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Full immunization coverage was 31.5% urban vs. 20.0% rural (p<0.001). Rural children had higher stunting (58.5% vs. 46.9%, OR=2.1), wasting (33.1% vs. 22.3%, OR=1.91, 95%CI:1.11-3.28), and underweight (60.0% vs. 52.3%, OR=1.83, 95%CI:1.25- 2.68) rates. The factors that were found to be significantly associated with the immunization status of the children in both groups were the educational level of the mothers (p< 0.001), the occupation of the fathers, and the presence of an immunization card (p< 0.001). In urban areas, there was a statistically significant association between immunization status and stunting (p= 0.003), underweight (p= 0.003), and wasting (p=0.029). However, in rural areas, there was only astatistically significant association between immunization status and underweight (p= 0.010). Urban children exhibited superior immunization coverage and nutritional outcomes compared to rural peers, underscoring inequities driven by access barriers. Strengthening rural outreach, community nutrition programs, and surveillance is essential.
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