Factors associated with student participation in a school-based hepatitis B immunization program.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Immunization Programs
• Pediatric Health

Background:

• School-based immunization programs are crucial for disease prevention.
• Understanding factors influencing vaccine uptake is essential for program success.
• Hepatitis B vaccination in schools aims to protect young populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between participation in a school-based hepatitis B immunization program and student socioeconomic factors.
• To explore the influence of teacher attitudes toward school-based healthcare on immunization rates.
• To identify key predictors of student vaccine uptake in an educational setting.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to teachers participating in the hepatitis B immunization program.
• Data on student participation in school lunch programs and standardized test scores were collected.
• Statistical analysis was performed to identify significant predictors of vaccine consent and completion.

Main Results:

• Socioeconomic factors were the primary predictors of student participation in the hepatitis B immunization program.
• Lower participation rates were observed in schools with higher proportions of students receiving free/reduced-price lunch and lower test scores.
• Teacher return of the questionnaire was the only teacher-related factor associated with student participation.

Conclusions:

• Targeting children from low socioeconomic status backgrounds is critical for enhancing immunization coverage in school-based programs.
• School health initiatives must address socioeconomic disparities to ensure equitable vaccine access.
• Further research into effective strategies for engaging underserved student populations is warranted.