PEDIATRICS Vol. 95 No. 6 June 1995, pp. 823-828
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The Effects of Maternal Health Behaviors and Other Risk Factors on Immunization Status Among Mexican-American Infants

Sylvia Guendelman PhD1, Paul English PhD, MPH1, and Gilberto Chavez MD2

1 Maternal and Child Health Program, University of California, Berkeley
2 California Department of Health Services and Pregnancy and Infant Health Branch, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Objective. Few studies have investigated the effect of maternal health behaviors on the utilization of childhood preventive care. We evaluated a sample of 788 Latino mother-infant pairs to determine whether, in addition to other characteristics, maternal health risk behaviors are associated with infant immunization status.

Methodology. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of Mexican origin mothers of infants 8 to 16 months of age living in San Diego County, CA. In addition to sociodemographic and health care factors, we assessed maternal behaviors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption, safety precautions, and the organization of the home environment, and examined their relation to adequate childhood immunization status.

Results. When grouped together in a maternal health risk index, maternal health behaviors showed a dose-response relationship with inadequate immunization status. After controlling for confounders, each point increase on the health risk index was associated with a 20% increase in the likelihood of inadequate childhood immunizations. Marital status, parity, life stress, time lived in neighborhood, Spanish language, and child age were also important predictors.

Conclusion. Early identification of children at risk for underimmunization may be aided by focusing on maternal health behaviors in addition to other sociodemographic characteristics.

Submitted on May 19, 1994
Accepted on September 22, 1994




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