Immunization status and risk factors of migrant children in densely populated areas of Beijing, China

Abstract

Objective: To properly evaluate the immunization status and determine risk factors of migrant children in 23 densely populated towns and townships in Beijing.

Methods: A household cluster sampling survey was implemented and standard face-to-face interviews were conducted with 1820 migrant children aged 12-35 months. Demographic characteristics of the child and primary caregiver, the child's migrant characteristics, the primary caregiver's knowledge and attitude toward immunization, information about immunization services provided by the local clinic, and the child's immunization history were obtained. Weighted up-to-date (UTD) and age-appropriate immunization rates for the following four vaccines were assessed: three doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis combined vaccine (DTP); three doses of oral poliomyelitis vaccine (OPV); three doses of hepatitis B vaccine (HepB); and one dose of Measles-containing vaccine (MCV). Weighted UTD and age-appropriate immunization rates for the overall series of these four vaccines (the 3:3:3:1 immunization series) were also estimated. Risk factors for not being UTD, being invalid and being delayed for the 3:3:3:1 immunization series were explored using both single-level and multi-level multinomial logistic regression models.

Results: For each antigen, the weighted UTD immunization rate was above 83%, but the age-appropriate immunization coverages for HepB, OPV, DPT, and MCV were only 45.6%, 49.6%, 50.8% and 54.7%, respectively. The 1st dose was most likely to be invalid or delayed within HepB, OPV and DPT series. For the 3:3:3:1 immunization series, the weighted UTD and age-appropriate immunization rates were 78.1% and 20.5%, respectively. Immunization status of migrant children tended to be homogenous within a village and therefore, multi-level model was more appropriate for assessing risk factors. Besides demographic characteristics, several other factors were significantly associated with age-appropriate immunization coverage. These factors included: the child's migrant characteristics; the primary caregiver's awareness of the importance of vaccination, and outreach services provided by immunization clinics including notification services and supplementary immunization activities (SIAs). The frequency and duration of clinical immunization sessions significantly influenced the UTD immunization rate but not the age-appropriate immunization rate. The degree of the primary caregiver's satisfaction with clinic services and convenience to vaccination clinic had no impact on the child's immunization status.

Conclusion: Alarmingly low age-appropriate immunization coverage of migrant children in densely populated areas demanded immediate intervention. Community context was an important factor to a migrant child's vaccination status and should be considered when taking measures. Strategies to strengthen outreach immunization service need to be developed to effectively improve the age-appropriate immunization coverage of migrant children.