Risk factors for incomplete vaccination in children less than 18 months of age attending the nurseries of day-care centres in Sao Paulo, Brazil

To estimate the proportion of children in day-care centres with incomplete vaccination and to identify associated risk factors, we conducted a cross-sectional study among 258 children less than 18 months of age attending public and philanthropic day-care centres in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Interviews, blood collection and anthropometry were performed. Unconditional logistic regression was adjusted for incomplete vaccination risk factors. 10.9% of children had incomplete vaccination. Children who were born prematurely (OR = 4.27; p = 0.004), or were malnourished (OR = 4.99; p = 0.049), or lived in inadequate housing (OR = 2.88; p = 0.039), or whose mothers had had poor prenatal care (OR = 4.98; p = 0.040) were more likely to have incomplete vaccination. Opportunities are being missed to identify children with incomplete vaccination; strategies to enhance vaccination coverage should pay special attention to the needs of families living in inadequate housing; and health promotion actions in primary health facilities and day-care centres should be performed as concomitant activities.