Related Experiment Videos
Does maternal prenatal care use predict infant immunization delay?
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester.
Insights
Maternal factors like multiparity and missed prenatal care appointments are linked to delayed infant DTP immunizations. Identifying these risks can help manage infants needing timely vaccination.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Immunology
Background:
- Infant immunization rates in the U.S. lag behind other industrialized nations, particularly in urban areas.
- Predictors for inadequate childhood immunization are not well-established.
- The link between prenatal care use and childhood vaccination status requires further definition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prenatal care utilization and infant immunization adequacy.
- To identify maternal and demographic factors associated with delayed DTP vaccination.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study analyzed medical records of 163 mother-infant pairs.
- Adequacy of immunization was defined as three DTP vaccines by 10 months of age.
- Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for immunization delay.
Main Results:
- 29.4% of infants did not receive three DTP immunizations by 10 months.
- Risk factors for delayed immunization included multiparity, Hispanic ethnicity (English-speaking), and missed prenatal care appointments.
- A significant interaction was observed between high missed prenatal visit rates and social services receipt, indicating highest risk for those with both.
Conclusions:
- Maternal demographics and healthcare utilization patterns are significant predictors of infant immunization rates.
- These predictive variables can facilitate early identification and case management for infants at risk of delayed vaccination.
Background:
The proportion of infants in the United States adequately immunized with DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis) vaccine is below other industrialized nations and lowest among infants living in urban areas. At present, predictors of poor immunization are not well developed. In particular, the relationship between prenatal care utilization and childhood vaccination is not clearly defined.
Methods:
Using medical record data, we measured associations between prenatal variables and adequacy of immunization (three DTP vaccines by age 10 months) in 163 mother-infant pairs who received prenatal and child care at a neighborhood community health center.
Results:
At the end of 10 months' follow-up, 29.4% of infants had not received three DTP immunizations. Logistic regression identified the following independent risk factors for immunization delay: multiparity, being an English-speaking Hispanic mother, and failing to attend scheduled prenatal care appointments. In the regression model, interactions also existed between having a high proportion of missed visits to total prenatal visits scheduled (> or = 25%) and receiving social services, with the highest risk existing for women with a high proportion of missed appointments who also received social services, and the lowest for those with < 25% missed appointments who received social services.
Conclusions:
Maternal demographics and health care utilization predict infant immunization rates. Use of these variables may permit early identification and case management of mothers of infants at high risk for immunization delay.