Background: The Expanded Programme on Immunization is one of the first priorities of the Government of Nepal. The high national dropout rate (11.3%) demonstrates that immunization opportunities are lost as approximately one of every nine children in contact with immunization services are slipping "out of the system" before the age of 12 months. This study is an attempt to explore the situation of the enhancing factors for dropout.
Objectives: The main objective of the study was to identify the reasons of dropout between BCG and Measles vaccination in Kapan Village Development Committee (VDC) of Kathmandu district.
Methods: This was a descriptive study. of children ranging from 12 to 23 months of age residing in Kapan VDC. (N=81) mothers were interviewed to obtain the information.
Results: The study revealed that Magar/Gurung in the area were found to dropout more (78.6%). Female children were more likely to dropout than male children. About 70% of children dropout were from labor class, and/or illiterate families. Majority of the mothers (42.5 %) said that the child was ill so they did not go for routine vaccination. However, 50.7% of dropout children received quality care. These findings were corroborated with the findings of key informant interview.
Conclusions: The major reason of dropout of measles vaccine was found to be the perceived contraindication regarding the immunization.