Biography
Biography: Chukwudebelu Victor
Abstract
Immunization is a way of creating immunity to certain diseases by using small amount of a killed or weakened microorganism that causes the particular disease. Child immunization is designed to protect infants and children in the early life, when they are most vulnerable and before they are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. In order to improve immunization coverage, factors such as mothers’/caretakers’ practices are known to contribute to the success or failure of the immunization program. A qualitative phenomenological type of research design was employed in the study to determine mothers’ practices before, during and after immunization. The study was carried out in Carlatan, City of San Fernando, La Union. The researchers made use of an interview guide and a small group discussion as a method of accurate data collection tool on 15 participants. The participants were mothers who had children under 1 year old. The study showed that mothers engage in several practices before, during and after immunization such as observing daily routine, relaxation, massage and hot compresses. With regard to practices for their children, mothers’ practices include breast feeding, cooling, use of anti-pyretic and hot compresses. This helped the researchers to draw a conclusion that the participants have good immunization practices. The researchers recommend that mothers should continue to breastfeed their infants before, during and after immunization, mothers should use warm compress instead of hot or cold compress so as to avoid reducing the immunization potency and researchers should conduct further studies on the health benefits of these practices.