Objective To determine the coverage of childhood immunization appropriate for age among socioeconomically disadvantaged rural-urban migrants living in Delhi and to identify the determinants of full immunization uptake among these migrant children. Methods This is a cross-sectional survey of 746 rural-urban migrant mothers with a child aged up to 2years, who were interviewed with a pretested questionnaire. Data pertaining to the reception of various vaccines, migration history and some other social, demographic and income details were collected. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the determinants of full immunization status. Results Immunization coverage rates were lower among migrants than the general population of Delhi and even lower among recent migrants. The likelihood of a child receiving full immunization rose with age of the mother, her educational attainment and the frequency of her use of health care. The head of household having a secured salaried job also significantly increased the likelihood of full immunization, as did post-natal visits by a health worker. Conclusion Migrant status favours low immunization uptake particularly in the vulnerability context of alienation and livelihood insecurity. Services must be delivered with a focus on recent migrants; investments are needed in education, socio-economic development and secure livelihoods to improve and sustain equitable health care services. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Determinants Internal migration Migrants India Immunization Child health

Vulnerable Populations residential mobility urban area rural area educational status household questionnaire survey regression analysis alienation childhood immunization India Maternal Age rural-urban comparison demography health survey health care personnel human health service socioeconomic status BCG vaccine interview Immunization Schedule investment Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans income Adolescent economic development male female poliomyelitis vaccine tuberculosis Infant Socioeconomic Factors educational attainment socioeconomics questionnaire health services child health database Article health care service provision major clinical study adult migration internal migration pertussis Delhi hepatitis B vaccine diphtheria pertussis tetanus vaccine Patient Acceptance of Health Care Transients and Migrants hepatitis B poliomyelitis immunization diphtheria tetanus child care Child vaccine