BMC Public Health
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpublichealth/content
(Accessed 22 August 2015)

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Research article
Understanding the socio-economic and sexual behavioural correlates of male circumcision across eleven voluntary medical male circumcision priority countries in southeastern Africa
Fiona Lau, Sylvia Jayakumar, Sema Sgaier
BMC Public Health 2015, 15:813 (22 August 2015)
Abstract |

Research article
Country characteristics and acute diarrhea in children from developing nations: a multilevel study
Ángela Pinzón-Rondón, Carol Zárate-Ardila, Alfonso Hoyos-Martínez, Ángela Ruiz-Sternberg, Alberto Vélez-van-Meerbeke
BMC Public Health 2015, 15:811 (21 August 2015)
Abstract

Research article
Improved coverage and timing of childhood vaccinations in two post-Soviet countries, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan
Schweitzer, G. Krause, F. Pessler, M. Akmatov
BMC Public Health 2015, 15:798 (19 August 2015)
Abstract
Background
Timing of childhood vaccinations has received close attention in many countries. Little is known about the trends in correctly timed vaccination in former Soviet countries. We examined trends in vaccination coverage and correct timing of vaccination in two post-Soviet countries, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, and analyzed factors associated with delayed vaccinations.
Methods
We used data from the Demographic and Health Surveys; the surveys were conducted in 2000 (n = 1726), 2005 (n = 1430) and 2010 (n = 1473) in Armenia and in 1997 (n = 1127) and 2012 (n = 4363) in Kyrgyzstan. We applied the Kaplan-Meier method to estimate age-specific vaccination coverage with diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine and a measles-containing vaccine (MCV). A Cox proportional hazard regression with shared frailty was used to examine factors associated with delayed vaccinations.
Results
Vaccination coverage for all three doses of the DTP vaccine increased in Armenia from 92 % in 2000 to 96 % in 2010. In Kyrgyzstan, DTP coverage was 96 % and 97 % in 1997 and 2012, respectively. Vaccination coverage for MCV increased from 89 % (Armenia, 2000) and 93 % (Kyrgyzstan, 1997) to 97 % (Armenia, 2010) and 98 % (Kyrgyzstan, 2012). The proportion of children with correctly timed vaccinations increased over time for all examined vaccinations in both countries. For example, the proportion of children in Armenia with correctly timed first DTP dose (DTP1) increased from 46 % (2000) to 66 % (2010). In Kyrgyzstan, the proportion of correctly timed DTP1 increased from 75 % (1997) to 87 % (2012). In Armenia, delays in the third DTP dose (DTP3) and MCV vaccinations were less likely to occur in the capital, whereas in Kyrgyzstan DTP3 and MCV start was delayed in the capital compared to other regions of the country. Also, in Armenia living in urban areas was associated with delayed vaccinations.
Conclusions
Vaccination coverage and timing of vaccination improved over the last years in both countries. Further efforts are needed to reduce regional differences in timely vaccinations.

Research article
Improving child survival through a district management strengthening and community empowerment intervention: early implementation experiences from Uganda
Anne Katahoire, Dorcus Henriksson, Eric Ssegujja, Peter Waiswa, Florence Ayebare, Danstan Bagenda, Anthony Mbonye, Stefan Peterson
BMC Public Health 2015, 15:797 (19 August 2015)
Abstract

Research article
Harmful practices in the management of childhood diarrhea in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review
Emily Carter, Jennifer Bryce, Jamie Perin, Holly Newby
BMC Public Health 2015, 15:788 (18 August 2015)
Abstract

Research article
Multimorbidity and the inequalities of global ageing: a cross-sectional study of 28 countries using the World Health Surveys
Sara Afshar, Paul Roderick, Paul Kowal, Borislav Dimitrov, Allan Hill
BMC Public Health 2015, 15:776 (13 August 2015)
Abstract