Aryastami K, Ratna W
Immunization to protect children from preventable diseases provided free in Indonesia. Nevertheless, the coverage of completed immunization was hardly be achieved. A qualitative study through Rapid Assessment was conducted in 2011 to in-depthly understand the information related the services utilization from gender and geographical perspective. Three specified areas of isles, country’s border and remoteness were selected based on the reason of prejudicial circumstances such as ethnicity, distance, and infrastructure limitation. The study found, knowledge of immunization among parents was very weak. Mothers knew immunization, but not comprehend of the function, names and the diseases that can be prevented. Conversely, fathers had better insight, but, in-case of mother unable to bring along the children to the immunization venue, father felt ashame to go and would rather to delay the immunization until the month later. Geographical such as isles, border, and remoteness became potentially enabling factor of immunization’s incompleteness. Similarly, distance brings about immunization delayed in addition to climate change, such as high wave, wind and current. Mother’s seeking behavior for immunization was not influenced by socio-economic due to free services. The relative differences between the have and don’t have was the former ask more frequent of the schedule, while the later would stay calm and indeed don’t care. Cultural background, friends and relatives influences were neither encourage nor discourage people to immunize at the right time. In conclusion, fathers involvements in seeking for immunization was almost none. Geography brought no difference effect on child’s immunization. This study recommends, fathers need to be empowered through socialization and transferring information, to enhance the community demand in child’s immunization.