Original Articles
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2026)
Factors associated with zero-dose status in the Expanded Program on Immunization in the Central Region of Togo in 2024: a case-control study
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Published: 15 June 2026
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Epidemic outbreaks often involve zero-dose (ZD) children, representing a major public health problem. In 2024, the central region of Togo recorded 1,703 ZDs. We aimed to identify the factors associated with the occurrence of ZDs in this region in 2024. A matched case-control study (1 case for 2 controls) was carried out in 2024 among children aged 0-59 months. The study included 68 cases (children who had not received the first dose of the pentavalent vaccine) and 136 controls (children who had complied with their vaccination schedule) matched for age, sex, and place of residence. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using Epi Info and R. Risk factors associated with ZD included male parental sex, single marital status, low educational attainment, home birth, absence of care at a health center, lack of knowledge of the vaccination schedule, ≥5 children in the household, absence of prenatal consultations, negative perceptions of vaccination, and lack of access to a telephone. Protective factors included religion, parental occupation, monogamy, parental age ≥20 years, ≤4 antenatal care (ANC) visits, birth order (second to fourth-born child), and receiving information from health centers or community health workers (CHWs). Targeted, multi-sectoral interventions are needed to improve immunization coverage and reduce the number of ZD children.
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How to Cite
Factors associated with zero-dose status in the Expanded Program on Immunization in the Central Region of Togo in 2024: a case-control study. (2026). Sahelian Journal of Responsible One Health, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/sjroh.2026.637
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