Vaccination coverage and some risk factors for non-vaccination in an urban area of Northeastern Brazil, 1994

Introduction The assessment of vaccination coverage and risk factors for non-vaccination is important to evaluate vaccination programs and to identify children not properly vaccinated Methods A cross-sectional household survey was carried out in the municipality of S. Luis, Maranhao, Brazil bg means of a standardized questionnaire. Multistage cluster sampling was used to identify children of 12-59 months of age residing in the city in 1994. The mother or other person responsible for the children was interviewed Fifty census clusters were visited and 40 households were sampled in each. On average 15 children were found in each cluster Design effect was calculated for each estimate. Health service utilization was analyzed according to socioeconomic and demographic indicators, and perceived morbidity using proportional hazard modeling (Cox's regression). Results Vaccination coverage levels were 72.4% for BCG, 59.9% for three doses of polio vaccine, 57% for three doses of DTP vaccine and 54.7% for measles vaccine. Vaccination levels have remained statistically unchanged over the last three years. Lower maternal schooling continues to be associated with increased risk of nonvaccination in the multivariable analysis. Conclusion Vaccination levels were low. Health education activities are one of the suggested strategies to increase vaccination coverage.