Faculty Collaboration Database

Improving Immunization Rates Through Community-Based Participatory Research: Community Health Improvement for Milwaukee's Children Program. Prog Community Health Partnersh 2016;10(1):19-30

Date

03/29/2016

Pubmed ID

27018351

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4869973

DOI

10.1353/cpr.2016.0009

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84961675308 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   12 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Nationally, immunization coverage for the DTaP/3HPV/1MMR/3HepB/3Hib/1VZV antigen series in children ages 19-35 months are near or above the Healthy People 2020 target (80%). However, children in lower socioeconomic families experience lower coverage rates.

OBJECTIVE: Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, Community Health Improvement for Milwaukee Children (CHIMC) intervened to reduce disparities in childhood immunizations.

METHODS: The CHIMC adopted a self-assessment to examine the effectiveness of adhering to CBPR principles. Using behavior change models, CHIMC implemented education, social marketing campaign, and theory of planned behavior interventions. Community residents and organizational representatives vetted all processes, messages, and data collection tools.

RESULTS: Adherence to the principles of CBPR was consistently positive over the 8-year period. CHIMC enrolled 565 parents/caregivers with 1,533 children into educational and planned behavior change (PBC) interventions, and enrolled another 406 surveyed for the social marketing campaign. Retention rate was high (80%) with participants being predominately Black females (90%) and the unemployed (64%); children's median age was 6.2 years. Increased knowledge about immunizations was consistently observed among parents/caregivers. Social marketing data revealed high recognition (85%) of the community-developed message ("Take Control: Protect Your Child with Immunizations"). Barriers and facilitators to immunize children revealed protective factors positively correlated with up-to-date (UTD) status (p<0.007). Ultimately, children between the ages of 19 and 35 months whose parents/caregivers completed education sessions and benefitted from a community-wide social marketing message increased their immunization status from 45% baseline to 82% over 4 years.

CONCLUSIONS: Using multilayered interventions, CHIMC contributed to the elimination of immunization disparities in children. A culturally tailored CBPR approach is effective to eliminate immunization disparities.

Author List

Willis E, Sabnis S, Hamilton C, Xiong F, Coleman K, Dellinger M, Watts M, Cox R, Harrell J, Smith D, Nugent M, Simpson P

Authors

Keli D. Coleman MD Assistant Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Matthew J. Dellinger PhD Associate Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Pippa M. Simpson PhD Adjunct Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Child
Child, Preschool
Community-Based Participatory Research
Health Behavior
Health Education
Health Promotion
Healthcare Disparities
Humans
Immunization Programs
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Social Marketing
Wisconsin