Determinants of vaccination dropout between PENTA1 and RR among children Aged 0–11 months in the Commune of Boundiali, Northern Côte d'Ivoire, 2025

Abstract

Introduction Vaccination is essential for child health and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals. Despite progress, many children remain incompletely vaccinated, particularly in Africa, especially in rural areas. Paradoxically, in Boundiali, the vaccination dropout rate between PENTA1 and RR reaches 24.53% in urban areas compared to 10% in peri-urban areas. This study therefore sought to identify community determinants associated with vaccination dropout in Boundiali. Methods A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in households in Boundiali among mothers of children aged 12 to 23 months, the age by which all EPI vaccines should have been received. Data collected through face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 software. Results A total of 210 mothers of children aged 12 to 23 months, of whom 55% were male, were interviewed. The vaccination dropout rate between PENTA1 and MR was 43%. Vaccination dropout was associated with lack of father’s permission before vaccination (aOR = 6.04, p = 0.049), not owning a television (aOR = 4.20, p = 0.040), lack of knowledge about the age for MR vaccination (aOR = 18.18, p = 0.000) and about vaccine-preventable diseases including diphtheria (aOR = 4.80, p = 0.029), meningitis (aOR = 6.46, p = 0.011) and yellow fever (aOR = 6.4, p = 0.011), as well as mistrust of vaccination (aOR = 4.78, p = 0.029). Conclusion These findings highlight the need to strengthen communication and health education strategies, particularly targeting fathers and populations with limited access to mainstream media. Action aimed at building vaccine confidence and providing information on vaccine-preventable diseases could significantly reduce vaccination dropout.