Determinants of childhood vaccination coverage in Kazakhstan in a period of societal change: Implications for vaccination policies

Abstract

After the fall of the Soviet Union countries in Central Asia have undergone large changes. In Kazakhstan the vaccination coverage decreased between 1990 and 1995, which resulted in an increased incidence of some vaccine-preventable diseases, e.g. diphtheria and measles. In this study we examined which factors affected the vaccination status of children in Kazakhstan and whether they resemble patterns observed in developing or developed countries. We found a mixed pattern of risk factors, consistent with the status of Kazakhstan as a transitional economy. Especially prominent was the relatively high education of the women and good access to the medical care system.