Registry-driven, community-based immunization outreach: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the effectiveness of registry-driven, community-based outreach directed toward children with immunization delays.


METHODS
A sample of 1,856 children aged 6 to 10 months was randomly assigned to receive either outreach or no intervention.


RESULTS
Children in the outreach group were more likely to receive an immunization during the observation period than children in the control group (61% vs 43%). Outreach was most effective for children with multiple risks, as measured by their immunization record; it was not effective for children whose mothers had received inadequate prenatal care.


CONCLUSIONS
Registry-driven outreach can effectively identify high-risk children and bring them to care.
Wilcox
S A
SA
Department of Sociology, Kent State University, Ohio, USA.
Koepke
C P
CP
Levenson
R
R
Thalheimer
J C
JC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015143:Philadelphia; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*