Childhood immunization and age-appropriate vaccinations in Indonesia

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Childhood immunization is crucial for preventing communicable diseases.
• Research on age-appropriateness and inequities in Indonesian immunization coverage is limited.
• Focus on measles and DTwP-3 vaccination age-appropriateness and coverage gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• Analyze socio-economic and demographic factors influencing routine childhood vaccine uptake in Indonesia.
• Identify predictors of age-appropriate measles and DTwP-3 vaccination.
• Examine spatial inequities in immunization coverage.

Main Methods:

• Utilized seven waves of Indonesia Demographic and Health Surveys (1991-2017).
• Employed multivariate regression analysis to assess influencing factors.
• Analyzed socio-economic and demographic correlates of vaccination coverage and timeliness.

Main Results:

• Parental education and healthcare service utilization are key predictors of full and age-appropriate immunization.
• Significant spatial heterogeneity exists in immunization coverage and age-appropriateness.
• Maternal education and engagement with healthcare services strongly correlate with timely vaccinations.

Conclusions:

• Despite improvements, a substantial proportion of children receive measles and DTwP vaccinations age-inappropriately.
• Maternal education and healthcare engagement are critical for improving vaccination timeliness.
• Policy interventions are needed to address regional disparities and enhance age-appropriate vaccination coverage.