Factors Associated with Vaccination Coverage among 0-59-Month-Old Children: A Multilevel Analysis of the 2020 Somaliland Demographic and Health Survey.

ABSTRACT

Globally, there has been little growth in vaccination coverage, with countries in the Horn of Africa having the lowest vaccination rates. This study investigated factors associated with vaccination status among children under five years old in Somaliland. The 2020 Somaliland Demographic and Health Survey surveyed women aged 15-49 years from randomly selected households. This multilevel analysis included 2673 primary caregivers of children under five. Only 34% of children were ever vaccinated. Childhood vaccination coverage was positively associated with high-budget regions, high healthcare facility density, and children older than 23 months. Vaccination coverage was greater for urban and rural residents than for nomadic people. Children whose mothers could read part of one sentence or one complete sentence were more likely to be vaccinated than illiterate mothers. Children whose mothers received antenatal care (ANC) once, two to three times, or four times or more were more likely to be vaccinated than those whose mothers received no ANC. Childhood vaccination coverage in Somaliland is low. Promoting maternal ANC visits and increasing women's literacy may enhance vaccination coverage. Funds should be allocated to areas with low resources, particularly for nomadic people, to boost vaccination uptake.