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The Effect of Inoculation on Health And Educational Outcome of Primary Pupils

Innime Righteous

Abstract

The study assessed the Effect of Inoculation on the health and educational outcomes of primary school pupils in Obi Local Government Area, Nasarawa State. Immunization is widely recognized as a key public health intervention that prevents vaccine-preventable diseases and promotes child development. Despite the availability of routine immunization services in Nigeria, many children, particularly in rural areas, remain under-immunized, which may negatively affect their health, school attendance, and academic performance. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design, with data collected from 100 respondents comprising teachers and parents/guardians of primary school pupils. A structured questionnaire was used, covering demographic information, immunization status, health outcomes, school attendance, academic performance, and challenges affecting immunization. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, specifically weighted mean for Likert-scale items, with a decision benchmark of 2.50. The findings revealed that most pupils had received routine immunizations, and immunized pupils exhibited better health, attended school more regularly, and performed better academically compared to non-immunized pupils. Key challenges affecting effective immunization coverage included distance to health facilities, lack of parental awareness, and vaccine hesitancy. The hypothesis testing confirmed that immunization has a significant impact on health and educational outcomes, leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. The study concludes that routine immunization is critical for improving child health and academic performance in rural communities. Recommendations include strengthening immunization programs, enhancing parental awareness, improving access to health services, and addressing misinformation about vaccines.

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