Preference for Private Sector for Vaccination of Under-Five Children in India and Its Associated Factors: Findings from a Nationally Representative Sample

BACKGROUND: Understanding the factors associated with private sector preference for vaccination will help in understanding the barriers in seeking public facility and also the steps to improve public-private partnership (PPP) model. METHODS: We analysed the recent National Family Health Survey-4 data (NFHS-4; 2015-16) gathered from Demographic Health Survey programme. Stratification and clustering in the sample design was accounted using svyset command. RESULTS: Weighted proportion of children receiving private vaccination was 10.0% (95% CI: 9.7-10.3). Children belonging to highest wealth quantile (adjusted Prevalence ratio; aPR-1.58), male child (aPR-1.07) urban area (aPR-1.11), not receiving anganwadi/Integrated Childhood Development Services (aPR-1.71) and receiving antenatal care in private sector was significantly associated with higher proportion of private vaccination. CONCLUSION: Current study showed that 1 in 10 <5 years child in India received vaccination from private health facility. Preference for private health facility was found to be influenced by higher socio-economic strata, urban area residence and seeking private health facility for antenatal and delivery services.