title: Influenza vaccine uptake among community-dwelling Italian elderly: results from a large cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Flu vaccination significantly reduces the risk of serious complications like hospitalization and death among community-dwelling older people, therefore vaccination programmes targeting this population group represent a common policy in developed Countries. Among the determinants of vaccine uptake in older age, a growing literature suggests that social relations can play a major role.
  
  
  METHODS
  Drawing on the socio-behavioral model of Andersen-Newman--which distinguishes predictors of health care use in predisposing characteristics, enabling resources and need factors--we analyzed through multilevel regressions the determinants of influenza immunization in a sample of 25,183 elderly reached by a nationally representative Italian survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Being over 85-year old (OR = 1.99; 95% CI 1.77 - 2.21) and suffering from a severe chronic disease (OR = 2.06; 95% CI 1.90 - 2.24) are the strongest determinants of vaccine uptake. Being unmarried (OR = 0.81; 95% CI 0.74 - 0.87) and living in larger households (OR = 0.83; 95% CI 0.74 - 0.87) are risk factors for lower immunization rates. Conversely, relying on neighbors' support (OR = 1.09; 95% CI 1.02 - 1.16) or on privately paid home help (OR = 1.19; 95% CI 1.08 - 1.30) is associated with a higher likelihood of vaccine uptake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and need factors, social support, measured as the availability of assistance from partners, neighbors and home helpers, significantly increases the odds of influenza vaccine use among older Italians.
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Hygiene and Public Health, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, via Tronto, 10/a Torrette di Ancona 60020, Italy. c.chiatti@univpm.it
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Chiatti
authors: Pamela
authors: P
authors: Barbadoro
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Lamura
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Pennacchietti
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Di Stanislao
authors: Marcello M
authors: MM
authors: D'Errico
authors: Emilia
authors: E
authors: Prospero
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines