Childhood Vaccine Gaps in Ethiopia: Why the Poor Miss Out

In Ethiopia, many children do not get any routine shots. Researchers looked at data from 2016 to see why poorer families miss vaccinations. They studied nearly two thousand kids aged one to almost two years. A child was called “zero‑dose” if he had not received the first diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine. The study found that about a quarter of the children were zero‑dose. Those kids were more often from poorer households, lived in rural or pastoral areas, and had mothers who did not go to school. They also tended to have no antenatal visits during pregnancy and were born at home.

Statistical analysis showed that poverty was the biggest factor, contributing about a third of the gap. Other important factors were lack of prenatal care (about one‑third), religion, place of birth and maternal schooling. The findings mean that simply giving vaccines is not enough; programs must also reach the poorest and give mothers more support. Improving prenatal care, targeting outreach to low‑income families, and boosting education for mothers can help close the gap. These steps are needed to meet national health targets and reduce child deaths worldwide.

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