Vaccination coverage among adolescents in the areas surrounding the Cachoeirinha health center in the northeastern region of Belo Horizonte - MG

Abstract

Introduction: vaccination in adolescence has received growing scientific attention in recent years. This age group's vulnerability to a number of preventable diseases, including some STDs, has a relevant impact in morbimortality, and caused it to be included in the National Immunization Program (Programa Nacional de Imunização). Objective: to check the influence of vaccination in a Basic Health Unit (BHU), analyzing vaccination records, data from the Ministry of Health, and the degree of knowledge demonstrated by adolescents and their guardians regarding these preventable diseases. Method: a household survey was carried out with a selected population of adolescents and/or their guardians, within the area covered by a BHU in northeastern region of Belo Horizonte-MG. Simple random sampling was the method used and the research was performed with 210 adolescents. Results: the main age group was 15-19 years (55.23%), corresponding to teenagers who answered the questionnaire. Guardians who participated totaled 149 respondents. Vaccine coverage established by the adolescents' personal vaccination cards showed that 39 were up to date with their schedules shots, 111 were behind and 60 did not respond. Yellow fever vaccine had the lowest coverage among youths. Lack of knowledge about immunization is high among adolescents and their guardians. Conclusion: Among adolescents, vaccination coverage and knowledge about diseases and their corresponding vaccines should be improved, not only increasing vaccination but also through health education in schools.

Knowledge of adolescents on vaccines: an integrating review / Conhecimento de adolescentes sobre vacinas: uma revisão integrativa

“…Little knowledge about immunization practices is frequent among adolescents. 5,[11][12][13][14][15] In this age group, the acquisition of knowledge about vaccination is extremely necessary, as such a process will provide subsidies to increase the level of vaccine acceptability among schoolchildren, with direct repercussions on the increase of vaccine coverage and, consequently, on the decrease of immunopreventable diseases. 11 Adolescents' lack of knowledge about vaccination schedules is accentuated, with a small proportion of young people being able to report, for example, the protection afforded by hepatitis B and yellow fever vaccines.…”

“…13 Furthermore, lack of knowledge about diseases that can be prevented with vaccines, such as diphtheria, rubella, hepatitis, tetanus, and yellow fever, is very pronounced among young people. 14 Adolescents, in general, perceive vaccines as an important means of disease prevention. However, the little knowledge of some of these individuals about the indication of immunobiologicals is so evident that vaccines are confused with injectable medications.…”

“…Several studies show that the lack of knowledge about immunobiologicals among young people implies in the decrease of vaccine coverage, which increases the vulnerability of these individuals to immunopreventable diseases. 5,[11][12][13][14][15] In this regard, it is emphasized that individuals of other age groups, such as pregnant women and the elderly, [16][17] generally have high levels of vaccination coverage, diverging from what happens with adolescents, and the deficit of knowledge about immunobiologicals on the part of young people represents an important factor that can interfere with this process.…”

“…To do so, it is necessary to understand comprehensive education as a concept that encompasses the attention, protection and full development of young people. 5,14 Thus, as a way to contribute to changing reality, it is necessary to search for measures that broaden adolescents' knowledge about vaccines, so that the expansion of vaccine coverage among these individuals is achieved.…”