Vaccination schedules, parental concerns and under-five deaths are associated with lower adherence and inadequate coverage in a small city in Peru

Abstract

Background A descriptive correlational non-experimental cross-sectional study was carried out in the Sunampe district on the Peruvian coast to enhance parental adherence to childhood vaccinations. The study aimed to answer the research question of whether there is a correlation between non-compliance with vaccination and an increased risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks in children under five years old, particularly in the context of low coverage in Sunampe. Methods To conduct the study, vaccination status, 123 family interviews, reported illnesses and deaths of children aged 1 to 5 years in the district of SUNAMPE were considered. Preventable diseases were reviewed in the medical history of each child. Deaths in Sunampe were accessed through the SINADEF database. Results Out of the 123 families surveyed, the primary discoveries indicated that neighbouring districts have a higher number of health facilities whereas the families interviewed felt that one solitary health facility was insufficient for the entire district's requirements. No children were affected by the reported cases of illness in Sunampe. However, data extracted from SINADEF between 2017 and 2022 revealed that 10 children under the age of five died in Sunampe. These deaths occurred at a rate of one per year during the pandemic and more than one per year during the pre- and post-pandemic periods. Discussion The susceptibility of children was examined in this study, considering factors like vaccination coverage, diseases contracted in Sunampe, and deaths in the area. Although there are few deaths per year, the prevalence of illness and incomplete immunisation, as well as increased rates of anemia in Peru, pose potential risks regarding vaccines such as DPT and the use of mercury in policies, especially for the economically active population in the future. Conclusion As anticipated, mothers tend not to adhere to their children's vaccination schedule due to insufficient knowledge about vaccines and concerns regarding post-vaccination reactions, which are commonly reported. On the contrary, the surprising outcome was that most parents claimed to not have undergone any severe reactions. We were able to determine that this was due to risks associated with vaccinations, rather than the vaccine itself.