Childhood Immunization Coverage in Somalia Remains Critically Low
Photo by MOHAMED ABUKAR / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Only 42% of Somali children are fully immunized; health facility birth and maternal education significantly increase vaccination odds.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 cross-sectional studies involving children in Somalia reveals alarmingly low childhood immunization coverage. The pooled coverage for receiving at least one vaccine was 57.9%, while completion of the four basic vaccines stood at just 16.1%. Full immunization coverage, defined as receiving all recommended vaccines, was only 42.2%.
Several factors significantly influenced immunization likelihood. Children born in health facilities were more than twice as likely to be immunized compared to home births (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.87-2.35). Maternal education also increased the odds (AOR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.09-1.20), and children in rural areas had higher immunization rates than urban counterparts (AOR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.49-1.61).
Surprisingly, mothers with four or more antenatal care (ANC) visits had lower odds of their child being immunized (AOR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.24-0.30), a finding that warrants further investigation. The authors note an urgent need to strengthen integrated maternal and child health services to improve vaccination coverage in Somalia.
View Original Abstract ↓
Childhood immunization is a cost-effective public health intervention, yet coverage remains suboptimal in Somalia. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to pool childhood immunization coverage and its determinants in Somalia. The electronic database search strategy yielded 11 eligible cross-sectional studies conducted between 2010 and 2025. Using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 5 (Biostat, Englewood, NJ, USA), the pooled coverage for receiving at least one vaccine was 57.9%, while completion of the four basic vaccines was 16.1%, Full immunization coverage was 42.2%. Children born in health facilities were more likely to be immunized than home births (AOR = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.87-2.35). Unexpectedly, mothers with ≥4 ANC visits had lower odds of child immunization (AOR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.24-0.30). Maternal education increased immunization likelihood (AOR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.09-1.20). Children in rural areas were likely to be immunized than urban counterparts (AOR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.49-1.61). These findings highlight the urgent need to strengthen integrated maternal and child health services.
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