Abstract

Background: The Maternal mortality rate in Pakistan remains unacceptably high Objectives: To study the awareness ofimmunization and breast feeding and the utilization of family-planning methods by the women of rural districts of Punjab, Pakistan. StudyDesign: A Cross-sectional study. Setting: The study was conducted in Vehari and Chakwal districts of Punjab, Pakistan. Period: May-July2010. Methodology: A total of 100 women were included in the study. Data was collected, cleaned, tabulated and analyzed. Results: Amongthe hundred sampled women 58 (58%) were educated, and the commonly involved age group in the sample was 21-30 year accounting for59% of the women. Among these 61% of the women have visited a family planning center, while the contraceptive prevalence rate (CRP) IS39%. Thirty eight (54%) out of the 70 multi-parous women have given birth with an interval of approximately 2 years. Only 6 (8.75%) have anoptimum (safe) interval of 3 years. Among the total 90 child bearing women 74(82.22%) have got vaccinated their children, 46 (62.16%) ofthese are completely vaccinated according to the information obtained from the EPI vaccination cards. Among the 13(17.56%) who haven’tvaccinated their children 10 (62.5%) complained of lack of awareness regarding the importance of vaccination. Five (31.25%) complained ofinaccessibility to the BHU. Out of the 90 interviewed women 61 (67.7%) were vaccinated with tetanus toxiod during pregnancy. 82 (82%)women are aware of the benefits of breast feeding. 88(97.7%) out of total 90 child bearing women have breast fed their children with thepercentage decreasing to 83.33% after 6-11 months of age and only 39(43.33%) counting breast till 1.5-2year (optimum age) of age.53(58.88%) started weaning their child between 6-11 months of age. Direct causes of Neonatal Deaths were, 30% birth asphyxia and injuries,35% due to infections (tetanus, sepsis , pneumonia, diarrhea), 20% due to complication of pre-maturity, 5% congenital anomalies and 20% dueto other causes. Conclusions: There’s a need for mass education regarding EPI and it’s compliance so that the target set under MDGs isachieved. Though women of the rural areas are aware of the advantages of breast feeding there is a lot of variation in the duration that thechildren are breast fed and weaned, so there is a need for the provision of standardized nutritional to the mothers by the health workers.