M O Bachmann1, P Barron. 1. Department of Community Health, University of Cape Town.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To compare prevalences of missed opportunities for immunisation between preventative and curative clinic patients and to evaluate changes 13 months later. DESIGN: Repeat cross-sectional survey of patients' Road to Health cards. SETTING: A large community health centre in Khayelitsha, South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: Patients under 6 years of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of children needing immunisation who were not vaccinated during the visit. RESULTS: At baseline, prevalences (95% confidence intervals) of missed opportunities or immunisation were 15.7% (9.2 - 22.2%) among preventative clinic patients and 92.0% (85.9 - 98.1%) among curative clinic patients. Thirteen months later the respective prevalences were 12.0% (5.0 - 19.0%) and 90.5% (84.6 - 96.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Separate provision of curative and preventive paediatric care results in many missed opportunities for immunisation in the former service. Fewer opportunities are missed if immunisation services are available all day every day, rather than for limited periods of the week.
OBJECTIVES: To compare prevalences of missed opportunities for immunisation between preventative and curative clinic patients and to evaluate changes 13 months later. DESIGN: Repeat cross-sectional survey of patients' Road to Health cards. SETTING: A large community health centre in Khayelitsha, South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: Patients under 6 years of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of children needing immunisation who were not vaccinated during the visit. RESULTS: At baseline, prevalences (95% confidence intervals) of missed opportunities or immunisation were 15.7% (9.2 - 22.2%) among preventative clinic patients and 92.0% (85.9 - 98.1%) among curative clinic patients. Thirteen months later the respective prevalences were 12.0% (5.0 - 19.0%) and 90.5% (84.6 - 96.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Separate provision of curative and preventive paediatric care results in many missed opportunities for immunisation in the former service. Fewer opportunities are missed if immunisation services are available all day every day, rather than for limited periods of the week.