ATTITUDE OF PREGNANT WOMEN TOWARDS IMMUNIZATION IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTER, KANO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Immunization remains one of the most effective public health strategies for reducing maternal and
neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the availability of immunization services in
Nigeria, vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women continues to pose a significant challenge to
achieving optimal maternal and child health outcomes. This study assessed the attitude of pregnant
women towards immunization in Primary Health Care Center, Kano State, Nigeria. Specifically,
the study examined the level of awareness and knowledge of immunization, identified factors
influencing immunization attitudes, and determined the relationship between awareness and
attitudes toward immunization. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The study
population comprised pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Primary Health Care Center,
from which a sample size of 169 respondents was selected using the Morgan and Krejcie sample
size determination method. Data were collected using a validated self-structured questionnaire
titled Pregnant Women Immunization Attitude Questionnaire (PWIAQ). The instrument
demonstrated good internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of 0.82.
Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard
deviations) and inferential statistics using the chi-square test at a 0.05 level of significance.
Findings revealed that although most respondents had moderate to high awareness of
immunization and its benefits, negative attitudes toward immunization persisted due to fear of side
effects, cultural and religious beliefs, misinformation, and mistrust of vaccines. The chi-square
analysis indicated a statistically significant relationship between awareness of immunization and
attitudes toward immunization among pregnant women. The study concludes that improving
immunization attitudes among pregnant women requires more than awareness creation alone and
emphasizes the need for sustained antenatal health education, culturally sensitive communication,
and strengthened healthcare counseling. The study recommends enhanced health education
during antenatal visits, capacity building for healthcare workers, community-based advocacy, and
improved access to accurate immunization information to promote positive immunization attitudes
among pregnant women.