CULTURAL BELIEF AND IMMUNIZATION IN BIRNIN KEBBI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KEBBI STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The hostility of community member towards immunization has been a concern to the health workers and this has been attributed to their cultural belief. The objective of this study is therefore to examine cultural beliefs and immunization of children. 120 questionnaire were administered were designed for three categories of respondents who are parent, health personnel’s and traditional and religious leaders. Each group mentioned was administered with 40 questionnaires each as they were randomly sampled from each group. Simple percentage and chi-square was used to present the result of the questionnaire and the hypothesis. The result showed that cultural beliefs affect people’s response to the immunization programme in Birnin Kebbi local government areas, that the attitudes of people toward immunization of children have affected the effectiveness of the immunization programme in Birnin Kebbi local government area and lastly, the immunization program has help eradicate some diseases within Birnin Kebbi local government areas. Conclusively, the cultural beliefs of those in the community have affected the effectiveness of the programme therefore it was recommended that there is need for more awareness and reorientation on immunization