BMC Public Health
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpublichealth/content
(Accessed 11 July 2015)

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Research article
Vaccine coverage and determinants of incomplete vaccination in children aged 12–23 months in Dschang, West Region, Cameroon: a cross-sectional survey during a polio outbreak
Gianluca Russo, Alessandro Miglietta, Patrizio Pezzotti, Rodrigue Biguioh, Georges Bouting Mayaka, Martin Sobze, Paola Stefanelli, Vincenzo Vullo, Giovanni Rezza BMC Public Health 2015, 15:630 (10 July 2015)
Abstract
Background
Inadequate immunization coverage with increased risk of vaccine preventable diseases outbreaks remains a problem in Africa. Moreover, different factors contribute to incomplete vaccination status. This study was performed in Dschang (West Region, Cameroon), during the polio outbreak occurred in October 2013, in order to estimate the immunization coverage among children aged 12–23 months, to identify determinants for incomplete vaccination status and to assess the risk of poliovirus spread in the study population.
Methods
A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in November-December 2013, using the WHO two-stage sampling design. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information from consenting parents of children aged 12–23 months. Vaccination coverage was assessed by vaccination card and parents’ recall. Chi-square test and multilevel logistic regression model were used to identify the determinants of incomplete immunization status. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results
Overall, 3248 households were visited and 502 children were enrolled. Complete immunization coverage was 85.9 % and 84.5 %, according to card plus parents’ recall and card only, respectively. All children had received at least one routine vaccination, the OPV-3 (Oral Polio Vaccine) coverage was >90 %, and 73.4 % children completed the recommended vaccinations before 1-year of age. In the final multilevel logistic regression model, factors significantly associated with incomplete immunization status were: retention of immunization card (AOR: 7.89; 95 % CI: 1.08–57.37), lower mothers’ utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services (AOR:1.25; 95 % CI: 1.07–63.75), being the ≥3 rd born child in the family (AOR: 425.4; 95 % CI: 9.6–18,808), younger mothers’ age (AOR: 49.55; 95 % CI: 1.59–1544), parents’ negative attitude towards immunization (AOR: 20.2; 95 % CI: 1.46–278.9), and poorer parents’ exposure to information on vaccination (AOR: 28.07; 95 % CI: 2.26–348.1). Longer distance from the vaccination centers was marginally significant (p = 0.05).
Conclusion
Vaccination coverage was high; however, 1 out of 7 children was partially vaccinated, and 1 out of 4 did not complete timely the recommended vaccinations. In order to improve the immunization coverage, it is necessary to strengthen ANC services, and to improve parents’ information and attitude towards immunization, targeting younger parents and families living far away from vaccination centers, using appropriate communication strategies. Finally, the estimated OPV-3 coverage is reassuring in relation to the ongoing polio outbreak.

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Research article
Parental attitudes towards male human papillomavirus vaccination: a pan-European cross-sectional survey
Gitte Lee Mortensen, Marjorie Adam, Laïla Idtaleb BMC Public Health 2015, 15:624 (8 July 2015)
Abstract
Background
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted virus that can lead to severe diseases in both women and men. Today, HPV vaccination is offered to females only across Europe. We aimed to examine parental attitudes to HPV vaccination of their sons given brief information about HPV in both genders.
Methods
A literature study on acceptability of male HPV vaccination was carried out to inform the construction of a study questionnaire. Following up on a Danish study from 2012, this questionnaire was applied in 1837 computer assisted interviews with parents of sons in the UK, Germany, France and Italy. In each country, the parents were representative in terms of geographical dispersion, city size and age of sons in the household. The applied questionnaires took the varying vaccination policies and delivery systems into account. The data were analysed pooled and for each country using significant statistical tests (chi-2) with a 95 % confidence interval.
Results
Approximately ¾ of parents in the UK, Germany and Italy were in favour of HPV vaccination of their sons. In France, this applied to 49 % of respondents. Favourable parents wanted to protect their sons from disease and found gender equality important. Parents in doubt about male HPV vaccination needed more information about HPV diseases in men and male HPV vaccination; Rejecting parents were generally sceptical of vaccines and feared vaccination side-effects. Parents in countries with active vaccination policies (UK and Italy) tended to trust the importance of national vaccination programmes. Parents in countries with passive vaccination strategies (Germany and France) had greater need for information from health care professionals (HCP) and public health authorities.
Conclusion
Given brief information about HPV in both genders, parental acceptance of HPV vaccination of sons is as high as acceptance levels for girls. All parents should be informed about HPV to make informed decisions about HPV vaccination for their children. There is a need for joint efforts from public health authorities and HCPs to provide parents with such information.

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Research article
Can opportunities be enhanced for vaccinating children in home visiting programs? A population-based cohort study
Michael R Isaac, Mariette Chartier, Marni Brownell, Dan Chateau, Nathan C Nickel, Patricia Martens, Alan Katz, Joykrishna Sarkar, Milton Hu, Elaine Burland, ChunYan Goh, Carole Taylor, PATHS Equity Team Members BMC Public Health 2015, 15:620 (7 July 2015)
Abstract
Background
Home visiting programs focused on improving early childhood environments are commonplace in North America. A goal of many of these programs is to improve the overall health of children, including promotion of age appropriate vaccination. In this study, population-based data are used to examine the effect of a home visiting program on vaccination rates in children.
Methods
Home visiting program data from Manitoba, Canada were linked to several databases, including a provincial vaccination registry to examine vaccination rates in a cohort of children born between 2003 and 2009. Propensity score weights were used to balance potential confounders between a group of children enrolled in the program (n = 4,562) and those who were eligible but not enrolled (n = 5,184). Complete and partial vaccination rates for one and two year old children were compared between groups, including stratification into area-level income quintiles.
Results
Complete vaccination rates from birth to age 1 and 2 were higher for those enrolled in the Families First program [Average Treatment Effect Risk Ratio (ATE RR) 1.06 (95 % CI 1.03–1.08) and 1.10 (95 % CI 1.05–1.15) respectively]. No significant differences were found between groups having at least one vaccination at age 1 or 2 [ATE RR 1.01 (95 % CI 1.00–1.02) and 1.00 (95 % CI 1.00–1.01) respectively). The interaction between program and income quintiles was not statistically significant suggesting that the program effect did not differ by income quintile.
Conclusions
Home visiting programs have the potential to increase vaccination rates for children enrolled, despite limited program content directed towards this end. Evidence-based program enhancements have the potential to increase these rates further, however more research is needed to inform policy makers of optimal approaches in this regard, especially with respect to cost-effectiveness.

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Research article
Factors associated with uptake of influenza vaccine in people aged 50 to 64 years in Hong Kong: a case–control study
May Yeung, Stephen Ng, Edmond Tong, Stephen Chan, Richard Coker BMC Public Health 2015, 15:617 (7 July 2015)