Individually significant risk factors do not provide an accurate clinical prediction rule for infant underimmunization in one disadvantaged urban area.
OBJECTIVE
To define a clinical prediction rule for underimmunization in children of low socioeconomic status.


METHODS
We assessed a cohort of 1160 infants born from July 1998 through June 1999 at an urban safety net hospital that received primary care at 4 community health centers. The main outcome measure was up-to-date status with the 3:2:2:2 infant vaccine series at 12 months of age.


RESULTS
Latino infants (n = 959, 83% of cohort) had immunization rates of 74%, at least 18% higher than any other racial/ethnic group. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated the following independent associations (relative risk, 95% confidence interval) for inadequate immunization: non-Latino ethnicity (1.7, 1.4-2.0), maternal smoking (1.3, 1.1-1.7), no health insurance (1.9, 1.4-2.3), late prenatal care (1.9, 1.5-2.3), no pediatric chronic condition (2.1, 1.2-3.1), and no intent to breast-feed (1.3, 1.1-1.6). However, the index of concordance (c-index) for this model was only 0.69. Neither excluding infants who left the health care system nor accounting for infants who were "late starters" for their first vaccines improved the predictive accuracy of the model.


CONCLUSIONS
In this predominantly Latino population of low socioeconomic status, Latino infants have higher immunization rates than other infants. However, we were unable to develop a model to reliably predict which infants in this population were underimmunized. Models to predict underimmunization should be tested in other settings. In this population, interventions to improve immunization rates must be targeted at all children without respect to individual risk factors.
Hambidge
Simon J
SJ
Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, Aurora, CO 80204, USA. simon.hambidge@uchsc.edu
Phibbs
Stephanie L
SL
Davidson
Arthur J
AJ
Lebaron
Charles W
CW
Chandramouli
Vijayalaxmi
V
Fairclough
Diane L
DL
Steiner
John F
JF
D015331:Cohort Studies; D003120:Colorado; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007223:Infant; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health; D035862:Vulnerable Populations