Journal Article

Socioeconomic inequalities are still a barrier to full child vaccine coverage in the Brazilian Amazon: a cross-sectional study in Assis Brasil, Acre, Brazil

de Menezes Oliveira, Cristieli Sérgio, Branco, Fernando Luiz Cunha Castelo, Delfino, Breno Matos, Pereira, Thasciany Moraes, Ramalho, Alanderson Alves, Braña, Athos Muniz, Martins, Antonio Camargo, da Silva-Nunes, Mônica, Codeço, Claudia Torres, Mantovani, Saulo Augusto Silva, Oliart-Guzmán, Humberto

2014

Overview

Introduction Vaccines are very important to reduce morbidity and mortality by preventable infectious diseases, especially during childhood. Optimal coverage is not always achieved, for several reasons. Here we assessed vaccine coverage for the first 12 months of age in children between 12 and 59 months old, residing in the urban area of a small Amazonian city, and factors associated with incomplete vaccination. Methods A census was performed in the urban area of Assis Brasil, in the Brazilian Amazon, in January 2010, with mothers of 282 children aged 12 to 59 months old, using structured interviews and data from vaccination cards. Mixed logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with incomplete vaccination schemes. Results Only 82.6% of all children had a completed the basic vaccine scheme for the first year of life. Vaccine coverage ranged from 52.7% coverage (oral rotavirus vaccine) to 99.7% coverage (for Bacille Calmette-Guérin). The major deficiencies occurred in doses administered after the first six months of life. Incomplete vaccination was associated with not having enough income to buy a house (aOR = 2.12, 95% CI 1.06-4.21), low maternal schooling (aOR = 2.60, 95% CI 1.28 – 5.29) , and time of residence of the child in the urban area of the city (aOR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.55 – 0.95). Conclusions This study showed that vaccine coverage in the first twelve months of life in Assis Brasil is similar to other areas in the Amazon and it is below the coverage postulated by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Low vaccine coverage was associated with socioeconomic inequities that still prevail in the Brazilian Amazon. Short and long-term strategies must be taken to update child vaccines and increase vaccine coverage in the Amazon.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd
• Subject: Brazil / Child, Preschool / Communicable Disease Control - methods / Communicable diseases / Cross-Sectional Studies / Economic aspects / Equality and Human Rights / Female / Health aspects / Health Policy / Health Promotion and Disease Prevention / Health Services Research / Healthcare Disparities - statistics & numerical data / Humans / Immunization Programs - statistics & numerical data / Infant / Logistic Models / Male / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Public Health / Risk Factors / Social aspects / Social Justice / Social Policy / Socioeconomic Factors / Urban Health Services - statistics & numerical data / Vaccination - standards