title: Predictors of hepatitis B immunization status in Korean American children.
abstract: This study assesses the predictive factors of social context and ethnicity on childhood hepatitis B immunization status among Korean American children living in an urban area. Logistic regression analysis revealed that maternal perceptions of benefits (OR = 3.24, 95% CI = 1.23-9.63) and barriers (OR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.25-0.89) were important predictors of hepatitis B immunization status. Among children ages 2-5 years in this study, children born prior to the adoption of new immunization guidelines in 1994 were less likely to have received all three doses of hepatitis B vaccine (adjusted OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.43-0.80). An informal social support network providing information concerning parenting and health care of children was also associated with an increased probability of obtaining the immunization (adjusted OR = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.25-7.66). Mother's history of adequate prenatal care (chi2 = 3.98, p < 0.05) was significantly related to immunization status. Major perceived barriers in accessing preventive health care include burden of cost, language barrier, and difficulty remembering the immunization schedule.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago, Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health, Chicago, Illinois, USA. ykim2@uic.edu
authors.forename: Y O
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Telleen