Adolescent health brief
Immunization Rates in a Canadian Juvenile Corrections Facility

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.04.008Get rights and content

Abstract

In Canada's judicial system there are more than 31,700 youths admitted to correctional services each year. Given the prevalence of documented medical problems and high-risk behavior in this population, it is important to assess the immunization status of adolescents admitted to juvenile detention facilities. We completed a chart review of all youth admitted to an adolescent custody facility in Kingston, Ontario, between January 2003 and October 2005. There were 234 admissions, representing a total of 148 youths between the ages of 12 and 17 years. Of the youths, 73% had incomplete immunizations according to National Advisory Committee on Immunizations. In all, 49% (73 of 148) were missing tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis immunizations; 33% (49 of 148), meningococcus; 2% (four of 148), measles, mumps, and rubella; and 37% (55 of 148), hepatitis B. Successful immunization delivery within the detention facility increased complete immunization rates from 27% to 65%. This study shows the prevalence of incomplete immunizations in this population of adolescents. Given this data, there should be a greater focus on obtaining immunization records and on consistently delivering immunizations.

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Methods

In the current study, charts were reviewed for all adolescents admitted to the St. Lawrence Youth Association, a custody facility for youth in the Eastern Ontario region, between January 2003 and October 2005. All youths had an intake history and physical examination, and their immunization records were retrieved on admission. Records were obtained from multiple sources including family records, legal guardians, or public health departments' computer-based registries. Eleven youths were

Results

There were 234 admissions over a 34-month period. This group represented a total of 159 adolescents, 81 male and 78 female, between ages 12 and 17 years. Of the 148 youth admitted and eligible for this study, 73% were incompletely immunized according to National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) guidelines [8]. Upon release from detention, incomplete immunizations decreased to 35%. Rates of specific missing individual immunizations ranged from 49% for tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular

Discussion

Population demographics of detainees revealed youth of primarily Caucasian descent from low to middle socioeconomic groups. It is the current standard of practice at the detention center to provide immunizations to detainees [2].

Youth who did not complete immunizations are accounted for by minimum interval considerations between vaccine series, refusal of immunizations, short detention stay, or lack of repeat admissions. One of the barriers to immunization is timely retrieval of accurate

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