Secondary Data Analysis of the 2012 Peru Demographic and Health Survey Examining Immunization Campaign Participation Among Children Aged 18 to 59 Months

Objective. To evaluate the association between characteristics known to be associated with under-immunization and participation in immunization campaigns among Peruvian children. Methods. This is an analysis of data collected as part of the Peru 2012 Demographic and Health Survey. Analyses were conducted among children in 2 groups: children aged 18 to 29 months among whom core vaccine coverage is typically determined by the Peruvian authorities and children aged 30 to 59 months who may have received the core vaccines at older ages. The associations between relative wealth, location, maternal education, primary maternal language and the outcome, participation in an immunization campaign within the past 2 years were estimated using logistic regression models adjusted for survey design in each age group. Results. For children aged 18 to 29 months, campaign participation was higher if the mother had completed secondary school compared with those not having completed secondary school (27.4% vs 20.1% [prevalence odds ratio (POR) = 1.51 (1.08, 2.13)]). For children aged 30 to 59 months, campaign participation was higher if the mother had completed secondary school (40.4% vs 35.1% [POR = 1.23 (1.02, 1.49)], adjusted for residence) and if the child resided in Lima versus in other urban areas (46% vs 35.4% [POR = 1.52 (1.16, 2.01)], adjusted for maternal education). Relative wealth and mothers’ primary language were not associated with campaign participation. Conclusions. This study suggests that children of mothers with higher education and those residing in Lima had higher prevalence odds of reporting that their children had participated in a vaccination campaign. This contrasts with the populations vaccination campaigns typically target (poor, rural, or indigenous) to improve vaccination coverage.