Immunisation coverage and its determinants among Rohingya refugee children in Malaysia

Al-Haroni H 1 , Muthanna A 2 , Nasir Mohd Desa M 3 , Azzani M 4

Affiliations 

  • 1 MBBCh, Master of Public Health, PhD candidate, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bioscience and Nursing, MAHSA (Malaysian Allied Health Sciences Academy) University, Bandar Saujana Putra, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 2 PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 3 PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 4 PhD, Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh@Campus, Selangor, Malaysia; Consultant, Centre of Occupational Safety, Health and Wellbeing, Universiti@Teknologi MARA, Kampus Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Aust J Gen Pract, 2023 Oct;52(10):712-719.
PMID: 37788693 DOI: 10.31128/AJGP-01-23-6676

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The displacement of populations due to humanitarian emergencies has an adverse impact on the global elimination of vaccine-preventable diseases. However, the level of immunisation coverage among Rohingya refugee children remains unknown. Therefore, this study investigated immunisation coverage and its determinants among Rohingya refugee children in Malaysia.

METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2020 among the guardians of 243 Rohingya refugee children studying under the sponsorship of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, Malaysia.

RESULTS: Among the 243 children, 90 (37%) were unimmunised, 147 (60.5%) were partially immunised and only 6 (2.5%) were fully immunised. The country of child's birth, the child's age and access to healthcare services were significantly associated with unimmunisation (all P<0.05).

DISCUSSION: This study found low immunisation coverage among Rohingya refugee children in Malaysia. Given the low level of coverage, a public health intervention, such as a vaccination program, for this refugee population is necessary.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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