Health Extension Workers Knowledge and Associated Factors on Child Immunization in Bako Tibe, West Shewa, Oromia, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Belachew Umeta,1 Biniyam Girma2 1School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia; 2School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Belachew Umeta Tel +251901649597Email belachew.umeta@ju.edu.etPurpose: To assess health extension workers knowledge of child immunization schedules and associated factors.Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted among health extension workers working in Bako Tibe Woreda. The data were collected by using semi-structured questionnaires, and descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Chi-square (χ2) was used to identify factors associated with the knowledge of health extension workers on the immunization schedules.Results: The response rate of the study was 92.1% (58/63). All of the health extension workers included in the study were females. The majority of health extension workers 45 (77.59%) had satisfactory knowledge of the child immunization schedule. Educational status (χ2 = 11.05; P= 0.001), work experience of as health extension workers (χ2 = 6.22; P= 0.045), on job training on immunization (χ2 = 11.12; P= 0.002), marital status (χ2 = 6.30; P= 0.019) were factors associated with health extension workers knowledge.Conclusion: The majority of health extension workers had satisfactory knowledge of the child immunization schedule. Educational status, work experience as health extension worker, on job training on immunization, and marital status were factors associated with the knowledge of health extension workers on the child immunization schedule.Keywords: health extension workers, immunization schedule, vaccination, community health workers