This study examined social determinants affecting successful completion of the hepatitis B vaccination protocol among Korean American children in immigrant families. The effects of family characteristics, social support from support network, barriers to immunizations, and health beliefs concerning hepatitis B vaccination were examined using logistic regression analysis. Information support concerning parenting and child health (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-7.02) and perception that hepatitis B was a difficult disease from which to recover (aOR 2.11, 95% CI 1.20-3.72) appear to be the most important factors for vaccination compliance after adjusting for family income, mother's education level, and health insurance coverage. The burden of paying for immunizations (aOR 0.50, 95% CI 0.22-0.90) also had an impact on the vaccination status. These findings suggest that identifying the children at risk of undervaccination against hepatitis B may be aided by focusing on these social determinants in addition to provider and sociodemographic characteristics.

Social determinants Barriers Korean Americans Access to immunization

clinical protocol Communication Barriers immigrant medically uninsured logistic regression analysis demography poverty health insurance human Health Behavior risk assessment Chicago controlled study social aspect social support language Confidence interval income Humans family Treatment Outcome Asian Americans preschool child Child, Preschool socioeconomics medical information Article patient compliance Hepatitis B Vaccines major clinical study health care access hepatitis B vaccine Emigration and Immigration Patient Acceptance of Health Care Immunization Programs vaccination hepatitis B Health Services Accessibility child parent relation Korea