Artikel
Effect of migration background on vaccination coverage with hepatitis B and measles vaccines in preschool children in Germany
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Autoren
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Heribert Stich
- Landratsamt Dingolfing-Landau, Dingolfing
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Manas Akmatov
- Universität Bielefeld, Bielefeld
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Rafael Mikolajczyk
- Universität Bielefeld, Bielefeld
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Alexander Krämer
- Universität Bielefeld, Bielefeld
| Veröffentlicht: | 6. September 2007 |
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Gliederung
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Background: Several studies have analysed the effect of migration background of children on vaccination coverage. Coverage was found to be lower among children born to migrant women. The aim of this study was to examine whether children with migration background had lower vaccination status compared with native children and whether it differed by different degree of acculturation among migrants.
Methods: We used data collected at school entry examination in Lower Bavaria in Southern Germany. Vaccination data were obtained from child health cards. Additionally, information about migration background was collected using self-administered questionnaire. Both information sources were available for 1481 children examined in 2004 and 2005. Acculturation index was developed using the Categorical Principal Components Analysis, and two acculturation groups were defined: low (acculturation score above median) an high acculturation (below median). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine which factors were independently associated with not being vaccinated against hepatitis B and measles.
Results: There was no association between migration status and vaccination against measles, but the vaccination coverage against hepatitis B was higher among children with migration background. The risk of not being vaccinated with hepatitis B was lowest for the low acculturation group [OR: 0.27 (95%CI: 0.11-0.71) compared to non-migrant population]. Lower education of one or both parents was found to be associated with a lower risk of not being vaccinated against measles [OR: 0.57 (95%CI: 0.32-0.99)] or hepatitis B [OR: 0.45 (95%CI: 0.29-0.68)].
Conclusion: Consistently with other studies in developed countries higher education status was associated with lower vaccination coverage indicating doubts regarding the safety of vaccines in this segment of the population. Children with migration background had better vaccination status in this sample. Parents of these children might be more convinced of vaccination benefits because of higher prevalence of infectious diseases in origin countries.
