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Published online November 23, 2009
PEDIATRICS Vol. 124 No. 6 December 2009, pp. 1579-1586 (doi:10.1542/peds.2009-0233)
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ARTICLE

Spatial Accessibility to Providers and Vaccination Compliance Among Children With Medicaid

Linda Y. Fu, MD, MSa,b, Nuala Cowan, MAc, Rosie McLaren, MSd, Ryan Engstrom, PhDc, Stephen J. Teach, MD, MPHb

a Goldberg Center for Community Pediatric Health
b Center for Clinical and Community Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC
c Department of Geography, George Washington University, Washington, DC
d National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia

OBJECTIVE: We examined the relationship between spatial accessibility to pediatric immunization providers and vaccination compliance in a low-income, urban population of children.

METHODS: In 2007, we accessed the Washington, DC, Immunization Information System (IIS) to collect data on the immunization statuses and residential addresses of children who were aged 19 to 35 months and had Medicaid insurance. In addition, we calculated each child's spatial accessibility to pediatric vaccination providers by assessing the provider-to-population ratio at each residential address. Spatial accessibility was divided into tertiles (low, medium, and high) of access. The relationship between spatial accessibility to providers and vaccination compliance was examined by using logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, type of vaccination provider, and enrollment in child care status.

RESULTS: Overall for our cohort of 4195 children, 80.5% of the children were up-to-date with vaccinations. Vaccination coverage ranged from 61.6% to 100% (median: 79.2%) among different neighborhoods. Having the highest level of access to pediatric vaccination providers was associated with 36% higher odds of being up-to-date as compared with having the lowest level of access. The middle tertile of access was associated with 25% higher odds of being up-to-date.

CONCLUSIONS: Within our low-income, urban population, children with higher spatial accessibility to pediatric vaccination providers were more likely to be up-to-date with vaccinations. This association may guide future studies and efforts to ensure adequate immunization coverage for children regardless of where they live.

Key Words: geography • immunizations • vaccines

Abbreviations: IIS—Immunization Information System • PCV7—7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine • FTE—full-time equivalent

Accepted Jul 9, 2009.


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