INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Health is a state of complete physical mental and social well being

not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO 1978). The

presence of disease in an individual defines his ill health condition which

requires medical care and advice on preventive measures.

The rapid development and advancement in medicine science

and technology call on us to ask ourselves of what program we have in

our thinking attitudes approach and practice to health. Have we

change to improve our children today? What have we done about the

slogan that say prevention is better than cure? Answer to above

challenges could be said that to learn is to change and our health care

approach is towards primary health care system which principally

emphasized on prevention and control of all disease at local community

level more from our children of 0-5 years of age for the whole country of

Nigeria without discrimination of religion or sex of the children.

Vaccine protect diseases by inducing immunity but not all the

diseases on earth vaccine are widely routinely administered around the

world base on common sense principle that it is better to keep both

children of 0-5 years and adult from falling ill than to treat them with

medicine.

Once they are ill more particularly our children which are going to

be better Nigerians of tomorrow the country will suffer disability and if

death occurs it is reduce the population. This is a bad result so will must

be given vaccine which are known to prevent some common disease

more particularly measles.

The WHO reported that in the year (2002) immunization averted

two million deaths. In view of the above benefits derived from

immunization simply by using vaccines we should not allow our children

to die in our homes and hospitals because of measles and other

preventable diseases.

It is a common belief among Africans particularly in developing

countries that measles is caused by witch craft and sometimes due to

offending god etc. This shows that Benue State of Nigeria is not left out

more commonly in Gboko areas one of the local government in the state

Measles is rarely seen in developed areas where health facilities

are available when there is no overcrowding the rate of cleanness is

high and people are well informed through public and health education in

term of all factors that predisposes to the disease cases of measles

infection (David 1978).

Measles is acute highly infectious disease of the childhood cause

by a particular virus group myko viruses. It is virtually endemic in some

parts of Gboko local government area. This disease affects the

childhood the most and sometimes fersocles in productive years when

she is pregnant and never have immunization before at the same time

never contacted in life.

The other name for measles is Rubella which affects the adult

more than children. The earliest description of measles was given by

noted Arab Physician Abu Baer (1865-925 AD) known to the West as

Rhazes. Panum did classical studies on the epidemiology of measles in

1846. In 1954 measles virus was isolated by Enders and his colleagues

in USA. In 1958 measles vaccine was first used in clinical trial and

1963 life measles vaccine was licensed for use till today.

Transmission occurs due to air borne in form of droplets infections

from 2-4 days before the onset of rash but depends on the immunity of

individual patient. Some may be 7 days before rash started. The entry

route to the body system is through respiratory track and the mouth.

The researcher have noticed that for various reasons most

mothers refuse to carry their children for vaccination due to fear of

vaccinations reactions to the children after given the medicine. Others

tend to say they have not being considering on the day of immunization

by community health practitioners for that sometimes the ten up was not

encouraging some say train persons are only considered the beautiful

ladies. The points above means some mothers forgotten about measles

which is communicable disease.

Statement of the Problem

The attitudes of mothers concerning outbreak of measles was that

they never care to carry their children early enough for proper

management and possible treatment in the clinic or hospital.

Measles is the worldwide disease. it is one of leading cause of

morbidity and mortality. In Nigeria it is one among the six killer disease of

the child. For now constitutes a serious public health problem. it is

responsible for 60% patient visit health facilities during outbreak less

than 5% of death in children under one year. 30% one year and above

and 11% pregnant women (FMOH 2005).

Due to irregular tend up for vaccinations the actual incidence of

measles is not known.

Purpose of the Study

1) To determine the availability of materials and services for measles

immunization in clinics/hospitals in Gboko Local Government.

2) To determine the extent of immunization coverage in Gboko Local

Government

3) To find out the factors that affect the successful immunization

coverage in Gboko Local Government.

Significance of the Study

If the findings of this research work are adopted properly and

implemented it will benefit the health workers as well as the ministry of

health the government the children community members and the field

of knowledge in general.

a) To the ministry of health and health workers the study findings will

provide useful information on the coverage percentages of

measles immunization in western part of Gboko town this allow

more children missed out to be immunized.

b) The finding if adopted and implemented will facilitate government

decision making as well as other interested non governmental

organizations towards updating strategies for proper coverage of

targeted children immunization.

c) When this new strategies are employed and more immunization

the children will enjoy more coverage adhered healthier life. The

community as whole will consequently benefit from healthier

human resources that will contribute to better development in all

aspects since children are the community future pride. This can

make it difficult to find permanent damage by measles in the

children from 9 months to five years of life (5 years).

Research Questions

i) What are the availability of health materials and services for

measles immunization in clinics/hospital in Gboko?

ii) What are the extent of immunization coverage in this western part

of Gboko area?

iii) Which are the factors affecting the successful immunization

coverage.

Scope of the Study

This study is limited to Gboko local government area part of

western side. Factors responsible for outbreak of measles in this local

government in Benue state.