Vaccination status of infants discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the vaccination rate among infants discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and factors affecting that rate.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey conducted when the children were 12 to 18 months of age.


METHODS
NICU at the Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, Sask.


METHODS
All 395 infants discharged from the NICU between Jan. 1 and June 30, 1992.


METHODS
Vaccination rate, ethnic background (native or non-native), place of residence (urban or rural), health status (number of days spent in the NICU), reasons for delay in or incomplete vaccinations (those involving parents' responsibility, infant illness or contraindications).


RESULTS
Of the 395 infants, 20 (5.0%) had died and incomplete information was available for 30 (7.6%). Complete data were available for 345 (87.3%). Of the infants for whom data were available, 8 (2.3%) had never been vaccinated and 142 (41.2%) had a delayed vaccination schedule or had not completed their scheduled vaccinations. Only 195 (56.6%) of the infants had received a full vaccination series. Non-native ethnic background was a predictor of completed vaccinations (odds ratio [OR] 5.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.05 to 9.52). In a univariate model, urban area of residence was not a significant predictor of vaccination status, but when ethnic background was controlled for in a multivariate logistic regression analysis, urban area of residence was found to be inversely associated with completed vaccinations (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.79). The number of days the child had spent in the NICU was not a significant predictor of vaccination status.


CONCLUSIONS
The vaccination rate of infants discharged from the NICU is not optimal. Urban native children appears to be at risk of not being vaccinated. Non-native infants are five times more likely than native infants to have completed all of their scheduled vaccinations. Methods to improve the rate of completed vaccinations, especially for native children, must be sought and tested.
Meleth
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon.
Dahlgren
L S
LS
Sankaran
R
R
Sankaran
K
K
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012525:Saskatchewan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*