Vaccination compliance and factors influencing parental adherence to childhood immunisation in the Doluwa Medical Officer of Health Area, Sri Lanka

Background: The expanded programme of immunisation (EPI) has been a major success in Sri Lanka. However, despite its success, vaccine hesitancy remains a concern. Timely vaccination is crucial, as delays and missed doses reduce herd immunity and increase susceptibility to vaccine-preventable diseases.
Objectives: To evaluate vaccine compliance, parental attitudes toward childhood immunization, and the factors influencing vaccination compliance among parents in the Doluwa Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area.
Method: A community-based cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 176 participants attending vaccination and well-baby clinics in conveniently selected Public Health Midwife (PHM) areas within the Doluwa MOH area in Kandy district. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and Child Health Development Records.
Results: Study involved 176 parents, with mean participant age of 31 years. All participants had appropriately vaccinated their children for their age, except for 47 (26.7%) who reported vaccination delays, primarily due to child illness (23.4%). There were no non-vaccinated participants. A significant association was found between child’s age and vaccination delay (OR= 1.045, 95% CI=1.02–1.07). All participants obtained vaccines from government sector. A majority (96.6%) had positive attitudes towards EPI, citing the high responsibility of the government sector (76.7%).
Conclusions: Despite excellent vaccination coverage, vaccination delays persist, indicating areas for improvement in the implementation of EPI.