KEYWORDS:
community mobilization, Child immunization, Bangladesh, primary health care, child survival, EPI

BACKGROUND:
The article reports the process of activating community initiative and its impact on child immunization coverage in a rural area of Bangladesh. Existing village-based indigenous organizations were activated to improve child immunization coverage. 1076 female and 379 male volunteers were participated in community mobilizing approach. List of children aged less than 12 months who were due for immunization were shared with the volunteers. Volunteers motivated the mothers to bring their children in the immunization center. An analytical participatory research method was used to guide village people evaluating the progress through their own graphical presentation.

OBJECTIVE(S):
To see the effcets of community mobilzation improving child immunization status in a rural area of Bangladesh

METHOD(S):
An Experimental study was designed to see the effects of the program among 3201 children aged 12-23 months in intervention and comparison area between 1994 and 1999. Full immunization coverage among children aged 12-23 months was dependent variable.

RESULT(S):
The findings indicate that villager’s participation increased child immunization significantly and it contributed to increase 16% between 1994 and 1999. The contribution was similar across all socioeconomic groups.

CONCLUSIONS(S):
The study suggests that villager’s participation can be achieved in health matters through existing local organizations and it is effective to increase child immunization reaching all children in a community.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Activating existing indigenious self-help organization improve child immunization in a rural area.