Abstract
This study introduced food/medicine vouchers as an incentive to mothers of infants visiting Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) centers in a low socio-economic area. The timely completion of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccines combined (DTP) series immunization rates between intervention and control cohorts were compared. The DTP up-to-date immunization coverage at 18 weeks of age increased two-fold (RR 2.20, 95% CI: 1.95-2.48, p < 0.001) in the incentive cohort compared to the no-incentive cohort. While increasing immunization coverage is a complex structural and behavioral process, food/medicine coupon may improve routine immunization coverage in developing countries.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 3473-3478 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Vaccine |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 19 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 26 2010 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- EPI
- Immunization coverage
- Incentives
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Medicine
- General Immunology and Microbiology
- General Veterinary
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Infectious Diseases