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Differences in routine childhood immunization uptake between single and multiple healthcare facility use: the Kochi
Marina Minami1, Yoshihiko Terauchi2, Masamitsu Eitoku3
1Integrated Center for Advanced Medical Technologies (ICAM-Tech), Kochi Medical School Hospital.
Insights
Using a single healthcare facility for childhood immunizations is linked to higher vaccination rates. This suggests that consolidating care at one institution may improve routine childhood immunization coverage.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Routine childhood immunization is crucial for public health.
- Vaccine uptake and facility use patterns influence immunization efficacy.
- Understanding pediatric vaccination facility use is key to improving coverage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between pediatric vaccination facility use patterns and routine childhood immunization uptake.
- To identify factors influencing immunization completion in children up to age eight.
- To inform strategies for enhancing childhood vaccination coverage.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 1,644 participants in the Kochi Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS).
- Categorization of participants into four groups based on pediatric vaccination facility use patterns.
- Statistical analysis using chi-square tests and logistic regression to assess associations.
Main Results:
- Overall routine childhood immunization completion was 76.6%.
- Single facility use was associated with higher immunization completion rates compared to multiple facility use.
- Using multiple facilities throughout the vaccination period showed the strongest association with higher odds of incompletion (aOR=1.90).
Conclusions:
- Single pediatric facility use is associated with higher routine immunization uptake.
- Encouraging consistent use of one medical institution may help address vaccination coverage challenges.
- This finding supports strategies to streamline vaccination services for improved public health outcomes.
Background:
The efficacy of routine childhood immunization depends on timely vaccine uptake and facility use patterns. This study examined the association between pediatric vaccination facility use patterns and routine childhood immunization uptake among children up to age eight years.
Methods:
As part of the Kochi Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), we analyzed data from 1,644 participants whose Maternal and Child Health Handbook photographs were collected in the eighth year of the cohort study. Maternal and Child Health Handbook records determined immunization completion. Participants were categorized into four groups based on pediatric vaccination facility use patterns: single facility use throughout, multiple facility use during the first period, multiple facility use during the second period, and multiple facility use throughout both periods. Maternal and child characteristics were collected via paper-based questionnaires. Associations between facility use patterns, sociodemographic factors, and immunization completion were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression.
Results:
Overall, routine childhood immunization completion was observed in 1,259 (76.6%) participants. Chi-square tests indicated that marital status, educational level, lower parity, never smoking, not attending nursery, and breastfeeding practice for infants aged four months old were significantly associated with routine childhood immunization completion. Single facility use throughout the immunization period was observed in 1,011 (61.5%) participants. Multiple facility use (38.5%) was associated with higher odds of routine childhood immunization incompletion than single facility use. This association was the strongest for those who used multiple facilities throughout the vaccination period (adjusted odds ratio, 1.90; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-2.91).
Conclusions:
Single pediatric facility use was associated with higher routine immunization uptake. Our findings suggest that encouraging the use of one medical institution for a child's vaccinations may be a useful approach to consider when addressing vaccination coverage challenges.
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