Access to Hepatitis B Vaccination among Korean American Children in Immigrant Families

This study examined social determinants affecting successful completion of the hepatitis B vaccination protocol among Korean American children in immigrant families. The effects of family characteristics, social support from support network, barriers to immunizations, and health beliefs concerning hepatitis B vaccination were examined using logistic regression analysis. Information support concerning parenting and child health (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-7.02) and perception that hepatitis B was a difficult disease from which to recover (aOR 2.11, 95% CI 1.20-3.72) appear to be the most important factors for vaccination compliance after adjusting for family income, mother's education level, and health insurance coverage. The burden of paying for immunizations (aOR 0.50, 95% CI 0.22-0.90) also had an impact on the vaccination status. These findings suggest that identifying the children at risk of undervaccination against hepatitis B may be aided by focusing on these social determinants in addition to provider and sociodemographic characteristics.