Vaccine coverage and factors related to the vaccination of adolescents living in the north area of Teresina/PI

Abstract

doi: 10.5216/ree.v12i3.6934

Nowadays, young people are among of priority groups for the Immunization National Program because of high susceptibility to some preventable diseases by vaccines and especially for the low immunization coverage against vaccine-preventable diseases. This present survey attempts to ascertain the vaccination coverage of teenagers living in the north of Teresina. This is a cross-sectional study using household survey with cluster sampling. The informations were collected from September to November of 2008, through interviews with 178 teenagers living in the area surveyed. The results were processed using Epi-Info version 6.04b. The analysis was done using descriptive statistics as absolute frequencies and percentages. It was found that the majority are female (63%) with 17 to 19 years old (57.3%), 9 to 11 years of learning (62%) and  the income family two minimum wages (61%). Approximately 50% were unaware of the card and vaccines for teenagers. The vaccination coverage was low, especially against tetanus (2.5%). It is concluded that the school and the health professionals have a main role in the awareness of teenagers to care for their health.

Descriptores: Adolescent; Nursing; Epidemiology; Immunization.