Effectiveness of individually tailored calendars in promoting childhood immunization in urban public health centers

Matthew W Kreuter, Charlene A Caburnay, John J Chen, Maureen J Donlin, Matthew W Kreuter, Charlene A Caburnay, John J Chen, Maureen J Donlin

Abstract

Objectives: We examined the effectiveness of tailored calendars in increasing childhood immunization rates.

Methods: Parents of babies aged birth to 1 year (n = 321) received individually tailored calendars promoting immunization from 2 urban public health centers. For each baby, an age- and sex-matched control was selected from the same center. Immunization status was tracked through age 24 months.

Results: A higher proportion of intervention than of control babies were up to date at the end of a 9-month enrollment period (82% vs 65%, P <.001) and at age 24 months (66% vs 47%, P <.001). The younger the baby's age at enrollment in the program, the greater was the intervention effect.

Conclusions: Tailored immunization calendars can help increase child immunization rates.

Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
A sample ABC Immunization Calendar.
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Percentage up-to-date at each time interval, by group and age–enrollment cohort: (a) P < .05; **P < .01; ***P < .001.
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Percentage up-to-date at each time interval, by group and age–enrollment cohort: (a) P < .05; **P < .01; ***P < .001.
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Percentage up-to-date at each time interval, by group and age–enrollment cohort: (a) P < .05; **P < .01; ***P < .001.
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Percentage up-to-date at each time interval, by group and age–enrollment cohort: (a) P < .05; **P < .01; ***P < .001.

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