Immunization and growth monitoring status of infants and mothers’

Introduction: Immunization and growth monitoring (GM) are the most important primary health cares (PHC) during infancy. Based on the results of national health survey in Iran, Hormozgan province has one of the poorest indices in immunization and GM in comparison with other provinces. The present study aimed at determining the status of these two important indices in infants and mothers’ awareness and cooperation of Bandar Abbas population laboratory (BPL). Methods: According to a large population – based survey (population = 36830), the immunization and GM status of all 714 infants were studied. The data were gathered by interviewing them at their homes. Data were analyzed by Minitab software and presented by descriptive indices Results: 94.9% of all infants had received PHC cares and 98.5% of them had health records in the PHC centers. 68.9% of mothers had some awareness of the necessity of monthly monitoring of their infants. 77.7% of the cases had complete GM charts but 12% had no GM charts at all. More than 45% of mothers had enough awareness to the concept and importance of the above mentioned charts. Over 94% of infants were immunized according to the national immunization protocol. Unavailability of PHC centers was the chief cause incomplete vaccination in the others. Conclusion:. More than half of mothers did not have proper awareness to the concept and importance of GM charts, thus education in this regard is essential. More facilities are needed to achieve 100% immunization coverage. As most of infants receive their PHC from public PHC centers, therefore effective training of the health care providers in such centers is immensely important.