The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #65566

Rachael Stupart¹, Carole A. Morris¹, Janet Stevenson, Dr¹, Dermot Gorman², and Janet Murray, Dr². (1) Lothian NHS Board, Deaconess House, 148 Pleasance, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, (2) Public Health/Health Policy, Lothian NHS Board, Deaconess House, 148 Pleasance, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, +44 191 536 9000, dermot.gorman@lhb.scot.nhs.uk

Childhood immunisation uptake is one of the key performance measures for the National Health Service in Scotland. Health Boards have been set a target to achieve 95% uptake amongst 24 month old children of vaccinations for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis C and polio. This project investigated variation in immunisation uptake within Edinburgh, Scotland. Immunisation data demonstrated that overall vaccine uptake in Edinburgh was affected by deprivation, with children from the most deprived areas having significantly lower uptake than those in the least deprived areas. On the basis of this evidence it would appear important to target deprived communities to raise immunisation uptake rates. However, Edinburgh is further divided into eight smaller primary care areas known as Local Health Care Cooperatives (LHCCs). Data showed a significant amount of variation between LHCCs in uptake rates, and whilst some LHCCs conformed to the expected negative association between deprivation and immunisation uptake, other LHCCs did not. This more localised analysis provided two key pieces of information. Firstly it identified specific problem areas, which unexpectedly included one of the most affluent areas in Edinburgh. Secondly it highlighted exemplary areas, in particular a deprived area in Edinburgh very successfully managing to ‘beat the odds’. The project is being continued with the assistance of front line health workers so that local factors that affect uptake and result in these ‘problem’ and ‘exemplary’ areas can be identified. Ultimately, this will help develop successful strategies to raise immunisation uptake across Edinburgh.

Learning Objectives:

• The participant in this session will: (a) recognise the value of health data in identifying overall health trends (b) have demonstrated to them the importance of acknowledging that local factors may negate expected health trends; and (c) learn about the potential effects of deprivation on immunisation uptake.

Keywords: Child Health, Immunizations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.