International Journal of Public Health
Volume 53, Issue 4, 2008, Pages 180-187

Association between acculturation and childhood vaccination coverage in migrant populations: A population based study from a rural region in Bavaria, Germany (Article)

Mikolajczyk R.T.* , Akmatov M.K. , Stich H. , Krämer A. , Kretzschmar M.
  • a Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, P.O. Box 100131, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany
  • b Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, P.O. Box 100131, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany
  • c Department of Public Health, District of Dingolfing-Landau, Dingolfing, Germany
  • d Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, P.O. Box 100131, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany
  • e Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, P.O. Box 100131, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of our analysis was to investigate the association between acculturation and the vaccination coverage among pre-school children. Methods: We performed a study of vaccination status for measles-mumps-rubella and hepatitis B among pre-school children, during mandatory school entry examinations, in a district of Bavaria, Germany, in 2004 and 2005 (N = 2,043). Prior to the examinations, parents were asked to fill out a self-administered questionnaire assessing socio-demographic information, including variables related to migration background (response rate 73 %, N = 1,481). We used Categorical Principal Component Analysis (CATPCA) to create an acculturation index and assessed the association between the acculturation and vaccination status for both vaccines. Results: We found no difference in vaccination status with the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine in relation to acculturation. The coverage with at least three doses of hepatitis B vaccine was similar among migrants and in the indigenous population, but the risk of incomplete (1 or 2 doses) versus full vaccination was higher (OR = 2.74, 95%CI 1.34-5.61) and the risk of lacking vaccination lower (OR = 0.30, 95%CI 0.12-0.77) among less acculturated migrants compared to the indigenous population. Conclusions: For multi-dose vaccines lower acculturation was associated with incomplete vaccination, but the partial protection in this group was higher compared to indigenous population. © Birkhaeuser 2008.

Author Keywords

CATPCA Migration Vaccination Germany Acculturation

Index Keywords

rural area educational status immigrant Germany indigenous people sex ratio human priority journal social status male preschool child female Child Rearing questionnaire cultural factor Article major clinical study measles mumps rubella vaccine hepatitis B vaccine mumps rubella vaccination hepatitis B measles
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-50649095716&doi=10.1007%2fs00038-008-8002-4&partnerID=40&md5=49d4850e46380e6efa7e949b1913216e
DOI: 10.1007/s00038-008-8002-4
ISSN: 16618556
Cited by: 17
Original Language: English