Factors Associated with Uptake of Rotavirus Vaccination among Mothers of Children under Five in Umuahia North, Abia State, Nigeria

Background: Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrhea among children under five years of age globally, with Nigeria bearing a significant burden.Despite the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine into Nigeria's national immunisation schedule, uptake remains suboptimal in many regions.Aim: This study aimed to assess the factors that influence the uptake of rotavirus vaccination among mothers of under-five children in Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State.Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 384 mothers selected through multistage sampling.Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: The findings revealed that only 93 (24.2%) of the children had received at least one dose of the rotavirus vaccine, and completion of the three-dose schedule was rare.Awareness and knowledge of the vaccine were notably low, as only 24.2% of mothers had ever heard of it, with Original Research Articlehealth workers being the main source of information.The major reasons for non-uptake included lack of awareness (31.3%), distance to health facilities (15.6%), and fear of side effects (9.6%).Factors significantly influencing uptake included occupation and prior awareness of the vaccine (p < 0.05), while other socio-demographic variables were not statistically significant. Conclusion:The study concludes that low awareness, inadequate health education, and accessrelated challenges significantly hinder rotavirus vaccine uptake.Strengthening community health education, expanding vaccine access, and empowering healthcare workers with better communication tools are recommended to improve coverage and reduce rotavirus-related morbidity and mortality in the area.