Factors associated with tetanus toxoid (TT) immunization uptake among selected urban poor pregnant women in Sta. Cruz, Manila

• Main Author: Santos, Wilma Intia
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1998
• Subjects: Immunization; Urban poor > Philippines > Manila; Tetanus; Pregnant women > Philippines > Manila; Public health; Medicine and Health Sciences; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/1920; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8758&context=etd_masteral
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study looked into the different factors associated with tetanus toxoid (TT) immunization among urban poor women of reproductive ages (15-44 years old). Specifically, the study sought to find out if there were differences among women who had TT immunization and those with no immunization according to the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. It aimed to determine the knowledge and perceptions of women about TT immunization the factors that enhanced or hindered TT uptake among pregnant women the factors affecting the level of completeness of TT immunization and the health providers' perception about TT immunization and the mechanism employed in the provision of TT immunization. The study employed a descriptive research design. Subjects of the study include 60 mothers who belong to the reproductive ages 15 to 44 years old. The following criteria were considered in the selection of respondents: a) at least 6 months pregnant at the time of the interview or have been pregnant for the past three years b) with at least one child and c) willing to be interviewed. Health providers who were directly involved in prenatal care service were also interviewed. The survey was done through face-to-face interview with respondents. The survey was conducted using a semi-structured interview schedule. Results showed that socioeconomic and demographic characteristics such as age, educational attainment, and occupation did not seem to influence TT uptake. This may be attributed to the homogeneity of individual and household characteristics of women studied. However, parity could affect a woman's TT uptake. The study also revealed that not all women who had prenatal care had received TT immunization considering that TT immunization is a component of prenatal care. Findings further showed that both women (those who had TT and those who did not have TT immunization) in the study have knowledge about TT immunization however, this knowledge and information seems to be limited or inaccurate. Public health doctors and nurses were the main source of information about TT immunization. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that the integration of the TT immunization in other maternal and child health programs other than the prenatal care service, and the intensification of TT information, education campaign should be strengthened and improved.