Evaluation of a community-based program to improve infant immunization rates in rural Minnesota.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of enrollment in a community-based public health nursing program, Communities Caring for Children (CCC), on infant immunization rates in rural Minnesota. The program involved health education, a registry, and a reminder system.


METHODS
The evaluation was a collaborative effort of university, public health agency, and private managed-care personnel. Two data sources were used to assess the association of program enrollment and immunization compliance; public birth certificates and a telephone survey of 421 CCC enrollees and non-enrollees.


RESULTS
Birth certificate and survey data showed that CCC enrollees were significantly younger, less educated, more likely to be white, and of lower parity than non-enrollees. The average age of subjects' infants was eight months. The survey data showed that, overall, CCC enrollees perceived less danger in infant immunizations than did non-enrollees and were more likely than non-enrollees to have access to infant immunization reminder cards. CCC enrollees reported significantly higher immunization compliance for their infants than did non-enrollees.


CONCLUSIONS
The area served by this program is relatively low-income and rural. Infant immunization status was among the lowest in Minnesota prior to the implementation of CCC. The evaluation suggested that enrollment in CCC was one of the most powerful predictors of infant immunization compliance.
Hellerstedt
W L
WL
Maternal and Child Health Program, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55454-1015, USA.
Olson
S M
SM
Oswald
J W
JW
Pirie
P L
PL
D000367:Age Factors; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000458:organization & administration; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012424:Rural Population