title: Meningitis and seasonal influenza vaccination coverage among military personnel in central Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the meningitis and influenza vaccination coverage rates among Saudi military personnel in Riyadh (Central Military Region [CMR]), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, (KSA) and the socio-demographic factors that influence vaccination.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on a sample of 2286 military personnel from different army forces and different military ranks in CMR in KSA selected by a 2-stage stratified random sampling technique. A self-administered questionnaire designed for the National Military Health Survey was used with a section added for assessment of vaccination status. Data collection was carried out from May to August 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 97.6%. The vaccination coverage was higher for meningitis (51.7%) compared with influenza (17.8%). A high percentage lacked awareness of their vaccination status. Vaccination rates were higher in the Land Forces, and increased with more years of education, and lower crowding index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proportion of vaccination coverage among military personnel in CMR of KSA is low, especially for influenza, along with their awareness of their vaccination status. A vaccination program that includes awareness promotion of vaccine-preventable diseases is recommended, with changes in the policies to mandate vaccination against meningitis and influenza.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Riyadh Military Hospital, PO Box 7897, Riyadh 11159, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. drh868@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hesham I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Al-Khashan
authors.forename: Mohei A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Selim
authors.forename: Adel M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mishriky
authors.forename: Abdulaziz A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Binsaeed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008581:Meningitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009326:Naval Medicine; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*