Study Reports Immunization Delays Among Low-Birthweight Children

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Very-low-birthweight (VLBW) and moderately low-birthweight (MLBW) children are more likely to receive their immunizations later during their first year of life, compared with normal-birthweight (NBW) children, according to a study published in the February issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. The authors analyzed data from surveys of mothers of 8,285 children who participated in the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey and the 1991 Longitudinal Follow-up Survey. The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between low birthweight and immunization delays.

• VLBW (<1,500g) and MLBW (1,500g to 2,499g) children received their first and second doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and the pertussis (DTP) and polio vaccines significantly later than NBW (>2,500g) children;



• VLBW children received their third DTP vaccine significantly later than NBW children;



• VLBW and MLBW children were significantly less likely than NBW children to be up to date for all immunizations at 12, 24, and 36 months of age;



• Among children not covered by private health insurance, VLBW children were significantly less likely to be up to date for all immunizations at 12 months of age than were NBW children; and



• Among children whose mothers had less than a high school education, VLBW children were significantly less likely to be up to date for all immunizations at 12 months of age than NBW children.

The authors note that the study was limited by the age of the data. They state that "further study is needed to gather more current data about immunization patterns among LBW children and to develop effective interventions to improve immunization rates in this population."

Langkamp DL, Hoshaw-Woodard S, Boye ME, et al. 2001. Delays in receipt of immunizations in low-birth-weight children. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 155(2):167-172.

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MCH Alert. 2001. Arlington, VA: National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health. http://www.ncemch.org/alert.