Influence of sociodemographic inequalities and chronic conditions on influenza vaccination coverage in Italy: Results from a survey in the general population

SummaryObjectiveTo assess inequalities in vaccination against seasonal influenza determined by sociodemographic and health-related factors.Study designA cross-sectional study was conducted using data from 128,040 subjects aged 1–89 years who participated the national survey ‘Health Conditions and Health Care Services Use’, conducted by the Italian National Centre of Statistics in 2005.MethodsThis analysis included people aged ≥65 years, and individuals of any age with chronic medical conditions. The outcome variable was vaccination or non-vaccination against influenza in the last 12 months, and the explanatory variables were gender, age, smoking habit, educational level, macro-region of residence, chronic medical conditions, occupational status, marital status, self-assessed health status and self-assessed household income. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using Chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression models. For the latter analysis, results are presented as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of being vaccination against influenza in the last 12 months.ResultsApproximately 20% of subjects had been vaccinated against influenza in the previous 12 months. Older age (≥65 years), current smoker, poor health status, poor self-assessed household income and the presence of at least one chronic condition were positively associated with influenza vaccination (P < 0.05). The lowest ORs for influenza vaccination were found in current smokers (adjusted OR vs non-smokers 0.699, 95% CI 0.697–0.701), young adults (adjusted OR 15–24 years vs ≥65 years 0.073, 95% CI 0.072–0.073; adjusted OR 25–34 years vs ≥65 years 0.097, 95% CI 0.096–0.097), subjects with a lower secondary education or professional school (adjusted OR vs primary education 0.910, 95% CI 0.908–0.913), subjects living in the Islands (adjusted OR vs North-eastern Italy 0.760, 95% CI 0.757–0.763), and unemployed subjects (adjusted OR vs employed 0.867; 95% CI 0.859–0.875). The ORs for vaccination were lower for some chronic conditions (e.g. allergies, cirrhosis) than others (e.g. cancer, stroke, bronchitis). Younger age groups, including children aged 0–14 years, had lower ORs for vaccination.ConclusionsSocio-economic factors, such as gender, age, educational level, occupational status and macro-region of residence, affect influenza vaccination coverage rates in the Italian general population. In addition, some chronic medical conditions are an obstacle for vaccination.