EC Gynaecology

Background: Despite the introduction of the measles’ vaccine in 1963, measles remains a leading cause of death among young children in developing countries.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge of mothers about the measles’ vaccine in Refe Khashm Al Girba district, Kassala State.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Refe Khashm Al Girba, Kassala State, Sudan. 300 mothers were enrolled in the study using systematic random sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the demographic characteristics and knowledge levels of the participants. Chi-square tests were used to assess associations between demographic factors and knowledge levels, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.

Results: The study revealed that 93.7% of the mothers were aware of the measles’ vaccine, but 68% had incorrect knowledge about the timing of vaccination. Significant associations were found between the mother’s educational level (p = 0.001) and family income (p < 0.001) with knowledge about the measles’ vaccine. Mothers with higher educational levels and high family incomes were more likely to have correct knowledge. Furthermore, 36.3% of the participants reported that they were unable to vaccinate their children during visits to health centers due to limited vaccine availability or scheduling issues.

Conclusion: The findings highlight a critical need for targeted educational interventions to improve mothers’ correct knowledge of measles vaccination, particularly about the timing of administration. Ensuring consistent vaccine availability at health centers is also essential to improving vaccination rates in the district.

 Keywords: Measles Vaccination; Mother knowledge; Misconceptions; Kassala State; Sudan

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