Publication

Where girls are less likely to be fully vaccinated than boys: Evidence from a rural area in Bangladesh

Authored by:

Hanifi, S.M., Ravn, H., Aaby, P., et al.

Full Citation:

Hanifi, S.M., Ravn, H., Aaby, P., et al. 2018. Where girls are less likely to be fully vaccinated than boys: Evidence from a rural area in Bangladesh. Vaccines. online April 2018.

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Additional key concepts from this publication:

Gender inequity in immunization coverage and careseeking contribute to the excess mortality for girls. These coverage inequities are more pronounced in families with multiple siblings.

Key Evidence: A study that examined the gender gap in immunization coverage in a rural area of Bangladesh showed that poverty, low maternal education, and second or higher birth order had a stronger negative effect on the likelihood of full immunization coverage for girls compared to boys. In other words, girls from households in this area that were below the poverty line were 11% less likely to be fully immunized than boys from households below the poverty line. Girls were also 6% less likely than boys to be fully vaccinated if their mothers did not attend high school and 5% less likely than boys to be vaccinated if they were not the first born child in the family.

Studies have shown that maternal education is significantly associated with immunization coverage for themselves and for their children.