KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS TOWARD IMMUNIZATION OF UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN IN UZO-UWANI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Immunization remains a critical public health intervention for reducing morbidity and mortality ...among under-five children; however, its success depends largely on the effectiveness of healthcare workers involved in service delivery. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of healthcare workers toward immunization of under-five children in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and data were collected from 110 healthcare workers using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that healthcare workers had a high level of knowledge of immunization schedules (81.8%), vaccine-preventable diseases (86.4%), and administration protocols (80.0%), though knowledge of cold chain management was relatively lower (77.3%). The study also showed a strongly positive attitude toward immunization, with high agreement that vaccines are safe and essential for child survival (mean scores ≥ 4.3). In terms of practice, 81.8% of respondents demonstrated good immunization practices, particularly in record keeping and adherence to schedules, while community outreach and cold chain maintenance were comparatively weaker. Chi-square analysis showed significant relationships between knowledge, attitude, practice, and immunization service outcomes (p < 0.05), leading to the rejection of all the null hypotheses. The study concludes that although healthcare workers in the area demonstrate adequate levels of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP), improvements are still needed in cold chain management, community engagement, and resource support systems to enhance immunization coverage among under-five children.