title: Vaccine schedule compliance among very low birth weight infants in Lima, Peru.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is little information about vaccine schedule compliance in very-low-birth-weight infants in developing countries. The aim of the study was to describe the compliance with the vaccine schedule among this population in Lima, Peru.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective cohort study in four hospitals in Lima in infants with a birth-weight of less than 1500 g, followed from birth up to 12 months of age every 2 weeks. The date and age at administration of each vaccine was recorded
  
  
  RESULTS
  222 infants were enrolled. The median birth-weight was 1250 g (range 550-1499 g) and the median gestational age was 30.0 weeks (range 23-37 weeks). The mean age for the first pentavalent (DPT, Hib, HepB) and oral polio vaccine administration was 4.3 ± 1.4 months in infants with a birth-weight of < 1000 g vs. 3.1 ± 1.0 in infants with a birth-weight 1000-1500 g (p < 0.001); 4.1 ± 0.9 vs. 3.3 ± 1.1 for rotavirus (p < 0.05); and 5.1 ± 2.1 vs. 4.3 ± 1.8 for the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine. Only 35% had received the three doses of oral polio and pentavalent vaccine by seven months, although by nine months 81% had received these vaccines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vaccination of very-low-birth-weight infants in Peru is significantly delayed, especially in infants with a birth-weight of < 1000 g and lower gestational age. Urgent educational interventions targeting physicians and nurses should be implemented in order to improve vaccination rates and timing in these high risk populations.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Lima, Peru; University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United States. Electronic address: Theresa.J.Ochoa@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Theresa J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ochoa
authors.affiliation: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Alonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zea-Vera
authors.affiliation: Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, Lima, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bautista
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nacional Materno Perinatal, Lima, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Davila
authors.affiliation: Hospital Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen, Lima, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.affiliation: Hospital Nacional Madre Niño San Bartolome, Lima, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bazán
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nacional Materno Perinatal, Lima, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Nutricional, Lima, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ecker
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral; D014612:Vaccines; D017778:Vaccines, Combined; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate
keywords: Developing countries; Vaccines; Very low birth weight infant