In both cities and rural areas of Tanzania, about 1 in 6 babies are late or miss their third vaccine shot — even though the reasons are different.

Scientific Claim

In urban Tanzania, the proportion of infants with delayed or incomplete DTP3 vaccination is 16.0%, while in rural Tanzania it is 17.3%, indicating similar overall rates of vaccination delay despite differing determinants between settings.

Original Statement

“The proportion of infants with either delayed or incomplete vaccination was similar in Dar es Salaam (DTP1 11.5% and DTP3 16.0%) and Morogoro (DTP1 9.2% and DTP3 17.3%); however, the determinants of delayed or incomplete vaccination as well as their magnitude of association differed by setting.”

From study:Determinants of delayed or incomplete diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccination in parallel urban and rural birth cohorts of 30,956 infants in Tanzania

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The claim reports observed prevalence rates from the study data without implying causation. The language is purely descriptive and matches the study’s reporting.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Determinants of delayed or incomplete diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccination in parallel urban and rural birth cohorts of 30,956 infants in Tanzania

Cohort Study

Human

2019 Feb 26

In cities and countryside in Tanzania, about the same number of babies miss their vaccines, but the reasons why are different—like education matters more in the countryside, while doctor visits matter more in the city.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Determinants of delayed or incomplete diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccination in parallel urban and rural birth cohorts of 30,956 infants in Tanzania

Score: 66

DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-3828-3

Similar Assertions

In rural Tanzania, babies born at home are more likely to be late or miss their vaccines than babies born in hospitals or clinics.

88%

In rural Tanzania, babies born small are actually less likely to miss their vaccines than babies born at a normal weight — the opposite of what’s seen in most other poor countries.

86%

In both cities and rural areas of Tanzania, babies from the poorest families are more likely to be late or miss their vaccines than babies from the richest families.

85%

In both cities and rural areas of Tanzania, teenage moms are much more likely to have babies who miss or are late on their vaccines than moms in their mid-20s.

85%

In rural Tanzania, moms with no school are much more likely to have babies who miss vaccines — but in cities, whether a mom went to school doesn’t seem to affect vaccine timing.

83%