Association of parental vaccination reports with measles, mumps, and rubella protective antibody levels: comparison of Somali immigrant, Hispanic migrant, and US children in Rochester, Minn.
OBJECTIVE
To compare measles, mumps, and rubella antibody levels in Somali immigrant, Hispanic migrant, and US children in Rochester, Minn, and to determine whether parental vaccination reports predict seropositivity.


METHODS
From 1995 to 1997, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis using measles, mumps, and rubella antibody levels obtained from a sample of Somali, Hispanic, and Rochester children. Volunteers provided blood samples, vaccination histories, and demographic information. We assessed differences in measles, mumps, and rubella antibody levels among the 3 groups of children and calculated positive and negative predictive values to determine whether parental report of vaccination predicted seropositivity.


RESULTS
Study participants included 79 Hispanic migrant, 69 Somali immigrant, and 730 Rochester children. Somali children reported vaccination at significantly older ages compared with Hispanic or Rochester children (P<.001). Most children were seropositive for all 3 antibodies. Parental reports of vaccination had high positive predictive values (71%-100%) but low negative predictive values (0%-50%).


CONCLUSIONS
Somali and Hispanic children were as likely as Rochester children to be seropositive for measles, mumps, and rubella antibodies despite poor documentation of vaccination. Somali children, however, tended to receive vaccinations at significantly older ages than Hispanic and Rochester children.
St Sauver
Jennifer L
JL
Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn 55905, USA.
Jacobson
Robert M
RM
Vierkant
Robert A
RA
Jacobsen
Steven J
SJ
Green
Erin M
EM
Poland
Gregory A
GA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D008910:Minnesota; D009109:Mumps virus / Q000276:immunology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology*; D012998:Somalia / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral