Tetanus Toxoid Vaccination Coverage and Associated Factors among Childbearing Women in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND: Tetanus is a bacterial disease caused by the Clostridium tetani, which is a highly fatal, noncommunicable, and toxin-mediated disease. Globally, maternal and neonatal tetanus is a public health problem due to low maternal tetanus toxoid immunization. Ethiopia has the highest neonatal mortality and morbidity related to tetanus due to low tetanus toxoid immunization and the high number of home deliveries. The main objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the pooled coverage of at least two doses of tetanus toxoid immunization, and the pooled effect sizes of associated factors in Ethiopia. METHODS: Primary studies for this review were searched from the PubMed/MEDLINE online, ScienceDirect, Hinari, Google, and Google Scholar databases. Primary articles published from 2010 up to August 30, 2020, were included in this meta-analysis. Data were extracted in Microsoft Excel format and exported to STATA Version 14.0. A random-effects meta-analysis model was used to estimate the pooled coverage of two or more tetanus toxoid immunizations and its associated factors. Heterogeneity was evaluated by the I(2) test. Egger's weighted regression test was used to assess publication bias. RESULTS: We retrieved 212 records; of these, 199 articles were excluded for reasons. Finally, 14 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled estimate of receiving at least two doses of tetanus toxoid immunization coverage in Ethiopia was 52.2% (95% CI: 42.47-61.93, I(2) = 98.4%). Antenatal care (OR = 7.8 (95% CI: 3.2, 19.2), I(2) = 96.3%), media exposure (OR = 8.3 (95% CI: 2.1, 33.3), I(2) = 98.1%), distance from the health facility (OR = 2.64 (95% CI: 1.1, 6.6), I(2) = 94.1%), educational status of women (OR = 4.7 (95% CI: 2.07, 9.56), I(2) = 94.2%), and educational status of husbands (OR = 2.995 (95% CI: 1.194, 7.512), I(2) = 92.5%) were factors significantly associated with receiving at least two doses of tetanus toxoid immunization coverage in Ethiopia. CONCLUSIONS: The coverage of tetanus toxoid immunization among childbearing women was low in Ethiopia. Strengthening maternal health service utilization (antinatal care and institutional delivery) to the nearest health facility even in health posts and empowering education for both women and their husbands is recommended to increase tetanus toxoid immunization coverage in Ethiopia.