THE OBLIGATORY VACCINATION EXTENT OF PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THECELJE REGION; IS IT IMPORTANT, WHO PERFORMS VACCINATION OFCHILDREN?

Abstract

BACKGROUND The health policy in Slovenia prefers the role of pediatritians (other specialists) in obligatory vaccination of pre-school children. The purpose of the article is to find out the profile ofinoculators and the vaccination extent of pre-school children in the Celje region. On thebasis of acquired data we should be able to confirm or exclude the possible difference of thevaccination extent in relation to the work methods, education and the location of inoculators. METHODS We employed retrospective analysis of data gathered from 1999 to 2003, obtained by Institute of Public Health of Slovenia, Institute of Public Health Celje, others Institute of PublicHealth in Slovenia and the Official Journal of the Republic Slovenia. The structure ofinoculators of pre-school children in the region is represented in the relation to their education status, methods of work and work sites. The vaccination extent of pre-school children is compared to the listed categories of inoculators. The results are analyzed and comparedto national average values. RESULTS The structure of pre-school inoculators in the region is heterogeneous. In the rural areaschildren are mostly inoculated by family practitioners (43 %) aside from other specialists.The differences of vaccination extent of pre-school children are not significant in any ofdefined categories. CONCLUSIONS Vaccination is tightly connected to prevention program. Also, the vaccination extent is oneof the global indicators of its quality. There are no significant differences of vaccinationextent between the groups of children inoculated by family practitioners and other specialists. Therefore, in our region the family practitioners are equally effective in vaccinationcomparing to other specialists and should continue such preventive practice. In otherSlovenian regions family practitioners do not practice such tasks or they may only besporadic. Thus the Celje region and its organizational scheme should become a pivotalplace for further research of optimal pre-school preventive health development in Slovenian rural areas