Abstract

The study assessed the factors associated with the timely immunization of HIV-exposed infants attending the HIV/AIDS clinic at Ishaka Adventist Hospital. The specific objectives were to establish the pattern of timely
immunization and determine the association between socio-economic and demographic factors and the timely
immunization of HIV-exposed infants. A cross-sectional study design was used to determine quantitative measures with questionnaires in which the researcher used the interview method during data collection to facilitate the administration of questionnaires. The study found that the prevalence of timely immunized HIV-exposed infants
was 59.8%, also infants below 11 months were more likely to be timely immunized (p-value, 0.038) than those more than 12 months of age. The study also found out that being employed 55/101 at a p-value of 0.028, and nearness to
the health facility, <5km and at a p-value of 0.042, (88/101) were significant in children being timely immunized,
while maternal education level, (p-value, 0.355) and religion (p-value, 0.185) were insignificant in determining
whether an HIV infant gets timely immunized or not. In conclusion, the timely immunization prevalence is still
below the 85% recommendation by WHO. Therefore, the following are recommendations: government should do
more sensitization regarding the immunization of HIV-exposed infants, more so health workers should do
community outreaches to provide services closer to those unable to attain services from the health facility. More so,
HIV mothers attending ANC should be health educated about the importance of timely immunization for their unborn babies.