الفهرس 
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Abstract
Childhood Immunization programs are an important part of the approach for increasing herd immunity and, as a result, lowering child mortality in countries. Vulnerable children are protected in communities with herd immunity, which is achieved via widespread immunization of the community. This means that the majority of people they come into touch with are immune and hence unable to transfer communicable disease. Furthermore, the timing of childhood immunization is essential since immunizing children too early or too close together can dramatically reduce the length of protection or conflict with the immune response (Noh et al., 2018).
The global pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has disrupted almost every aspect of human effort, forcing countries to implement unprecedented public health measures designed to mitigate the virus’s effects, such as complete lockdown (inter and intra), travel bans, quarantine, and social distancing. The COVID-19 pandemic control measures have also limited the operations of the routine immunization system. COVID-19 has an impact on mothers’ visits for the expanded program of immunizations (EPI), as well as on vaccination and vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) tracking indicators, as well as on the notification of increased or decreased morbidity and mortality (Bello et al., 2021).
Significant of the study
Childhood vaccination reduces the mortality rate. Of note, during the COVID-19 pandemic some childhood vaccinations were delayed or missed. Specifically, after March 2020 considerably fewer children received the vaccines against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and measles compared to 2019. Several reasons contributed to this decline including the lack of access to health services due to lockdown restrictions, and the shortage of health care staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, there is an increasing concern that the pandemic regulations influenced health care professionals’ communications with parents, hence limiting routine vaccination promotion (Fakonti et al., 2022).
Except for the COVID-19 pandemic, parental hesitancy toward childhood vaccination affects childhood vaccination uptake. Mothers perceptions toward vaccines may influence decisions to vaccinate their child/children. Mothers vaccination behavior and experiences may result in childhood vaccination delays or refusal. In addition, negative opinions toward vaccination may enhance the risk of unvaccinated children and increase the likelihood of disease outbreaks. Recently, outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease were observed due to inadequate vaccination rates; hence it is essential to estimate the parental attitudes toward childhood vaccinations. Mothers seem to have a prime role in childcare (Bimpong et al., 2022).
Aim of the Study
This study aims to assess Mother’s Perception Regarding Routine Immunization for Their Children during the Covid_19 Pandemic through:
- Identifying health needs and problems of children during the covid-19 pandemic.
- Assessing mothers’ knowledge regarding routine immunization for their children during the covid-19 pandemic.
- Assessing mothers practice regarding routine immunization for their children during the covid-19 pandemic.
- Assessing mothers’ perception regarding the protective measures during routine immunization for their children and the MCH policy during the covid-19 pandemic.
Research questions:
1. What are the health needs and problems of children during covid-19 pandemic?
2. What are the mothers’ knowledge and practice regarding routine immunization for their children during covid-19 pandemic?
3. What is the mothers’ perception of the protective measures while vaccinating their children?
4. What is the mothers’ perception of MCH policy during covid-19 pandemic?
Research design: A descriptive exploratory research design was used to conduct this study.
Setting: This study was conducted at four setting of maternal and child health care centers in Obour city Qaliobaya governorate.
Sampling: the study was included a convenience sample of (380) mother accompanied with their children under 2 years old.
Tools of Data Collection:
The data in this study were collected by using two tools:
Tool I: Structured interview questionnaire for mothers. This tool is divided in to five parts:
• Part I: It was concerned with socio demographic characteristics of the mothers as regards: age, occupation, level of education, father level of education, marital status, family members, family type, family income and their children socio demographic characteristics as sex, age and birth order.
• Part II: It was concerned with health history of children, health needs and health problems.
• Part III: It was concerned with mothers’ knowledge regarding routine immunization for their children during the covid-19 pandemic.
• Part IV: It was concerned with mothers’ reported practices regarding routine immunization for their children during the covid-19 pandemic.
• Part V: It was concerned with mothers’ perception regarding routine immunization for their children during the covid-19 pandemic.
Tool II: Anthropometric measures for children adopted from (WHO, 2021) and modified by investigator. Anthropometric measures such a weight, height, body mass index (BMI).
Results
55.3% of studied mothers their age was 30<40 with mean of age 36±4.1years and were working, 80.3% of them were married. Regarding to level of education 26.3% of mothers had intermediate education & basic education. 51.6% of them were had 3 people and 82.1% were nuclear family concerning to source of income, 51.3% of them the monthly income was not enough.
23.2% of studied children their age was one day to two months. Also, 53.2% of them were male. Regarding to infant’ arrangement 51.6 % of children had first
55.8% of studied mothers had unsatisfactory knowledge regarding their total knowledge while 44.2% only had satisfactory total knowledge.
66.1% of studied total mothers’ practices had done regarding routine vaccinations during the COVID19. While, 33.9% were not done the routine vaccinations during the COVID19.
As regard heath needs, 63.2% of them were breast feeding and 44.0% were partial weaning, while 51.3 % of the children introduced food or fluids at the age 4 to 6 months.
Regarding health problems, 5.0% of children suffering from chronic illness and 31.5 % & 26.3% suffering from respiratory diseases and juvenile diabetes respectively, 11.1% only from children had congenital malformations. Also, 28.6 had surgery as correct the curvature of the legs and ear surgery.
65.8% of studied total mothers’ perception had positive the protective measures during routine immunization for their children and the MCH policy during the covid-19 pandemic. While, 34.2% were negative perception regarding MCH policy during the covid-19 pandemic.
Mothers’ perception regarding the protective measures and the MCH policy during routine immunization, 82.1% were disagree about child should wear a face shield while going for vaccinations. Moreover, 72.9 of them were disagree about the family health center that I go to has provided me and my child with enough preventive measures to deal with the Corona pandemic. 63.7% of them were agree about trust the instructions of the medical team at the family health center.