Factors associated with tetanus toxoid vaccine utilization among reproductive-age women in Debre Markos town, Ethiopia, 2021: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Therapeutic advances in vaccines and immunotherapy 2024, Vol.12
• Main Authors: Tamiru, Yihunnie Dessie, Sendo, Endalew Gemechu, Deressa, Jembere Tesfaye
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Women’s Research In: Therapeutic Advances in Vaccines and Immunotherapy
• ISSN: 2515-1355; 2515-1363
• DOI: 10.1177/25151355241305855

Maternal and neonatal mortality due to lack of tetanus toxoid vaccine Maternal and neonatal mortality is high both in developed and developing countries due to preventable infection. Tetanus is an acute bacterial infection caused by a highly potent neurotoxin that affects the mother and newborn during pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal. World Health Organization recommended that women of childbearing age benefit from tetanus toxoid immunization. So, assessing tetanus toxoid immunization coverage and their associated factors will help the policy makers for the next planning. The study was employed in the community among 505 childbearing women and found that 71.2% of them were vaccinated with tetanus toxoid dose two (TT++). Even though the women and neonates in the community benefited from the vaccine, only 7.7% of them had cards. Almost 58.8% of the women reported that there was a gap in counseling about the tetanus toxoid vaccine purpose. In this study mother’s and husband’s educational status, number of Antenatal care visits, perceived quality of service, the behavior of health workers, traveling time to health facilities, and health extension are factors that affected tetanus toxoid vaccine coverage. Finally, the researchers in the area can use this finding as input and conduct further study including qualitative design to explore women’s experiences related to the tetanus toxoid vaccine.