Conocimiento y cobertura vacunal autodeclarada en inmigrantes adultos residentes en la provincia de Alicante

Abstract

IntroductionThere is a valuable probability of insufficient vaccination coverage among immigrants and therefore a risk of exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases. Studies that have tested these circumstances focus on children. This paper explores the attitudes, knowledge and self-reported vaccinations received in the adult population of working age. MethodsCross-sectional study using a specific survey as a tool aimed at immigrants 18-65 years living in the province of Alicante. It was conducted by personal interview to a sample of 692 individuals in February-April 2010. ResultsOut of the total, 56.6% are female, 90.8% of the respondents have been living in Spain for less than 10 years and 88.7% have a health card. The Romanian and Moroccan communities show less confidence in vaccines. The most known vaccines are tetanus (65.8%), influenza (56.8%) and hepatitis B (56.2%), which in turn is more administered, especially tetanus and hepatitis B among Moroccans and influenza among Europeans. The Moroccan community is the worst vaccinated in their home countries and received more vaccines in Spain (1.3 shots/person). A percentage of 46.7 reported have been immunized at some time in Spain, advised mainly in the primary care center or at work, and 13.3% of the Romanian group and 4.7% of Ecuadorian reported having had some type of difficulty vaccinated. ConclusionsEven though there are favorable opinions towards vaccines, there are reluctant collectives. Vaccination status and inoculation requirements are different in each nationality. It would be desirable to strengthen the work of primary care and take advantage of the visit to a health center to expand vaccine coverage of the group of adult immigrants.