Influence of Health Education on Immunisation Uptake Among Mothers of Children Under Five in Delta State

Immunisation remains one of the most effective public health interventions for reducing child mortality, yet uptake rates in many parts of South South Nigeria fall short of national targets. This study investigated the influence of health education on immunisation uptake among mothers of children under five years of age in Delta State. A cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted, with 300 mothers recruited from primary healthcare centres across Oshimili South, Ughelli North, and Ethiope East local government areas. Data were collected through a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and validated using a Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.82. Findings revealed that mothers who had received structured health education on the importance and schedule of childhood immunisation were 2.4 times more likely to maintain complete vaccination records for their children compared to those who had not. Key barriers to immunisation uptake included fear of side effects, long distances to health facilities, inconsistent vaccine supply, and lack of spousal support. Community health workers and church-based health outreach programmes were identified as highly influential in improving maternal health-seeking behaviours. The study recommended that health education on immunisation be embedded in antenatal care services and community outreach programmes, with special attention to rural and peri-urban mothers. Keywords: immunisation uptake, health education, children under five, Delta State, South South Nigeria