Correlates of completing routine vaccination among children in Mysore, India

More than half of the over 18 million incompletely vaccinated children worldwide in 2011 lived in India (32%), Nigeria (14%) and Indonesia (7%). Overall immunization coverage in India was 61% in 2009. Few studies have explored the role of parental attitudes in children's vaccination.

To explore the correlates of completion of routine vaccination among children in Mysore City, India.

A two-stage probability sample of 800 girls aged 11-15 years was selected from 12 schools in Mysore to take home questionnaires to be completed by their parents. The questionnaire elicited information on socio-demographic characteristics, attitudes and practices relevant to vaccination. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors independently associated with completion of routine vaccination.

Of the 797 (99.6%) parents who completed questionnaires, 29.9% reported completing all routine vaccinations for their children. Parents who had obtained optional vaccinations for their children (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 4.56; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.09-6.74), who believed in vaccines' effectiveness (2.50; 1.19-5.28) and who asked doctors or nurses about vaccination (2.07; 1.10-3.90) were significantly more likely to report complete vaccination, after controlling for all other factors. Belief that the disease was more protective than vaccination was independently associated with lower likelihood of vaccination series completion (0.71; 0.52-0.96). No other attitudinal or socio-demographic factors were associated with vaccine completion.

Interest and belief in vaccine effectiveness are important facilitators motivating parents to obtain full vaccination for their children in India.