Religion, Education And Child Immunization In Ethiopia

The book "Religion, Education and Child Immunization in Ethiopia" offers a comprehensive analysis of the relationships between children's vaccination status and religion in Ethiopia. It highlights significant differences in vaccination rates, particularly regarding the influence of maternal religion and education. The study is based on data from the nationally representative Demographic and Health Survey of 2000 and shows that children of traditional mothers are significantly less likely to be fully immunized compared to those of mothers belonging to Orthodox or other religions. This discrepancy is explained by the social mechanisms associated with the beliefs of traditional mothers, who often hold spiritual explanations for illnesses and do not recognize the importance of vaccinations. Additionally, the role of maternal education and residence (rural/urban) in relation to children's vaccination rates is examined.