Effect of food coupon incentives on timely completion of DTP immunization series in children from a low-income area in Karachi, Pakistan: a longitudinal intervention study.
This study introduced food/medicine vouchers as an incentive to mothers of infants visiting Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) centers in a low socio-economic area. The timely completion of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccines combined (DTP) series immunization rates between intervention and control cohorts were compared. The DTP up-to-date immunization coverage at 18 weeks of age increased two-fold (RR 2.20, 95% CI: 1.95-2.48, p<0.001) in the incentive cohort compared to the no-incentive cohort. While increasing immunization coverage is a complex structural and behavioral process, food/medicine coupon may improve routine immunization coverage in developing countries.
Chandir
S
S
Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N., Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. schandir@jhsph.edu
Khan
A J
AJ
Hussain
H
H
Usman
H R
HR
Khowaja
S
S
Halsey
N A
NA
Omer
S B
SB
D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010154:Pakistan; D011203:Poverty
D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine