The Taiwan National Health Insurance program and full infant immunization coverage.
OBJECTIVE
We compared hospital-born infants and well-baby care use associated with complete immunizations in Taiwan before and after institution of National Health Insurance (NHI).


METHODS
We used logistic regression to analyze data from 1989 and 1996 National Maternal and Infant Health Surveys of 1398 and 3185 1-year-old infants, respectively.


RESULTS
Infants born in hospitals were found to receive fewer immunizations than those born elsewhere before NHI but significantly more after NHI. Use of well-baby care correlates strongly and positively with the probability that a child will receive a full course of immunization after NHI.


CONCLUSIONS
The NHI policy of including hospitals as immunization providers facilitates access to immunization services for children born in those facilities. Through NHI provision of free well-baby care, health planners have stimulated the demand for immunization.
Chen
Chin-Shyan
CS
Department of Public Finance, National Taipei University, 67, Sec. 3, Ming-Shen E. Road, Taipei 104, Taiwan.
Liu
Tsai-Ching
TC
D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011332:Privatization; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011635:Public Health Administration; D013624:Taiwan