Assessing achievement of Special Routine Immunization Week among relatively immobile internal migrants in Uttar Pradesh, India

Introduction: Yet, approximately 30% dwellers are internal migrants in India. Migrant is one who resides away from his/her native home due to variety of reasons. In Uttar Pradesh, these relatively immobile internal migrants generally comprise of Nomad, Brick kiln and Migratory construction workers. The present study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the achievements of first phase of Special Routine Immunization Week (SRI week) in terms of improvement of immunization status of a community of internal migrants in Lucknow. Materials and Methods: The study was a community-based observational, which undertook relatively immobile internal migrant communities attributed to local administration of Community Development Block, Sarojininagar, Lucknow. The study was conducted during 24-30th April 2013, covering equal numbers of households (each 100) from the three type of communities selected randomly. An attempt of in-depth interview with the adult member was made to reveal the underlying issues of the study. Results: Of the three communities, migratory construction workers outnumbered in the literacy status (7.46%). The immunization coverage in all the three communities prior to the SRI week was 24.63% while post to the first phase of SRI week was 81.12%, thereby achieving immunization by 56.49%. The present study also showed no relation between vaccination achievement during SRI week and literacy status of different communities. Conclusions: There is a need of having such sessions at regular intervals repeatedly as well as conducting focused studies on these groups to identify the various factors which are responsible for poor immunization coverage and keep them in mind while planning such special immunization activities.