Immunization coverage,knowledge,satisfaction,and associated factors of non-National Immunization Program vaccines among migrant and left-behind families in China:evidence from Zhejiang and Henan provinces

Background Migrant and left-behind families are vulnerable in health services utilization,but little is known about their disparities in immunization of non-National Immunization Program(NIP)vaccines.This study aims to evaluate the immunization coverage,knowledge,satisfaction,and associated factors of non-NIP vaccines among local and migrant families in the urban areas and non-left-behind and left-behind families in the rural areas of China.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in urban areas of Zhejiang and rural areas of Henan in China.A total of 1648 caregivers of children aged 1-6 years were interviewed face-to-face by a pre-designed online questionnaire,and their families were grouped into four types:local urban,migrant,non-left-behind,and left-behind.Non-NIP vaccines includedHemophilus influenza b(Hib)vaccine,varicella vaccine,rotavirus vaccine,enterovirus 71 vaccine(EV71)and 13-valent pneumonia vaccine(PCV13).Log-binomial regression models were used to calculate prevalence ratios(PRs)and 95%confidence intervals(CIs)for the difference on immunization coverage of children,and knowledge and satisfaction of caregivers among families.The network models were conducted to explore the interplay of immunization coverage,knowledge,and satisfaction.Logistic regression models with odds ratios(ORs)and 95%CIs were used to estimate the associated factors of non-NIP vaccination.Results The immunization coverage of all non-NIP vaccines and knowledge of all items of local urban families was the highest,followed by migrant,non-left-behind and left-behind families.Compared with local urban children,thePRs(95%CIs)for getting all vaccinated were 0.65(0.52-0.81),0.29(0.22-0.37)and 0.14(0.09-0.21)among migrant children,non-left-behind children and left-behind children,respectively.The coverage-knowledge-satisfaction network model showed the core node was the satisfaction of vaccination schedule.Non-NIP vaccination was associated with characteristics of both children and caregivers,including age of children(>2 years-OR:1.69,95%CI:1.07-2.68 for local urban children;2.67,1.39-5.13 for migrant children;3.09,1.23-7.76 for non-left-behind children);and below caregivers’characteristics:family role(parents:0.37,0.14-0.99 for non-left-behind children),age(≤35 years:7.27,1.39-37.94 for non-left-behind children),sex(female:0.49,0.30-0.81 for local urban children;0.31,0.15-0.62 for non-left-behind children),physical health(more than average:1.58,1.07-2.35 for local urban children)and non-NIP vaccines knowledge(good:0.45,0.30-0.68 for local urban children;7.54,2.64-21.50 for left-behind children).Conclusions There were immunization disparities in non-NIP vaccines among migrant and left-behind families compared with their local counterparts.Non-NIP vaccination promotion strategies,including education on caregivers,and optimization of the immunization information system,should be delivered particularly among left-behind and migrant families.

Implementing the communication for development strategy to improve knowledge and coverage of measles vaccination in western Chinese immunization programs:a before-and-after evaluation

Background:Communication for Development(C4D)is a strategy promoted by the United Nations Children’s Fund to foster positive and measurable changes at the individual,family,community,social,and policy levels of society.In western China,C4D activities have previously been conducted as part of province-level immunization programs.In this study,we evaluated the association of C4D with changes in parental knowledge of immunization services,measles disease,and measles vaccine,and changes in their children’s measles vaccine coverage.Methods:From April 2013 to April 2014,C4D activities were implemented as part of provincial immunization programs in the Inner Mongolia,Guangxi,Chongqing,Guizhou,Tibet,Shaanxi,Gansu,Ningxia,and Qinghai provinces.We used a before-and-after study design and employed face-to-face interviews to assess changes in parental knowledge and vaccination coverage.Results:We surveyed 2107 households at baseline and 2070 households after 1 year of C4D activities.Following C4D,95%of caregivers were aware of the vaccination record check requirement for entry into kindergarten and primary school;80%of caregivers were aware that migrant children were eligible for free vaccination;more than 70%of caregivers knew that measles is a respiratory infectious disease;and 90%of caregivers knew the symptoms of measles.Caregivers’willingness to take their children to the clinic for vaccination increased from 51.3%at baseline to 67.4%in the post-C4D survey.Coverage of one-dose measles-containing vaccine(MCV)increased from 83.8%at baseline to 90.1%after C4D.One-dose MCV coverage was greater than 95%in the Guangxi,Shaanxi,and Gansu provinces.Two-dose MCV coverage increased from 68.5 to 77.6%.House-to-house communication was the most popular C4D activity among caregivers(91.6%favoring),followed by posters and educational talks(64.8 and 49.9%favoring).Conclusions:C4D is associated with increased caregiver knowledge about measles,increased willingness to seek immunization services for their children,and increased measles vaccination coverage.Tailored communication strategies based on insights gained from these analyses may be able to increase vaccination coverage in hard-to-reach areas.C4D should be considered for larger scale implementation in China.