Korean J Fam Med.  2015 Jul;36(4):186-190. 10.4082/kjfm.2015.36.4.186.

Association between Living Arrangements and Influenza Vaccination Rates among Elderly South Korean People: The Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-2)

• Cho HM
• Kim JY
• Hwang SE
• Kim JC
• Kim MY
• Lee SH

• KMID: 2085305
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2015.36.4.186

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study aimed to investigate the association between living arrangements and influenza vaccination among elderly South Korean subjects.
METHODS
We used data from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants older than 65 years were included and categorized into 4 groups according to the type of living arrangement as follows: (1) living alone group; (2) living with a spouse group; (3) living with offspring (without spouse) group; and (4) living with other family members group. A total of 1,435 participants were included in this cross-sectional analysis.
RESULTS
A lower vaccination rate was observed in the living with offspring (without spouse) group, whereas the living with a spouse group had higher rates of both seasonal and H1N1 influenza vaccination. After adjusting for age, sex, region, education level, income level, and number of comorbidities, the living with offspring (without spouse) group had a higher H1N1 vaccination non-receipt rate than the living alone group (odds ratio, 2.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-3.82).
CONCLUSION
Influenza vaccination rates differed according to the type of living arrangement. Particularly, those living with offspring (without spouse) had the lowest H1N1 influenza vaccination rate compared to those with other living arrangements, and this difference was significant. Interventions to improve influenza vaccination coverage should target not only elderly persons who live alone, but also those living with offspring.

Keyword

Influenza Vaccines; Vaccination; Residence Characteristics; Aged

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Comorbidity
Cross-Sectional Studies
Education
Humans
Influenza Vaccines
Influenza, Human*
Korea
Nutrition Surveys*
Residence Characteristics*
Seasons
Spouses
Vaccination*
Influenza Vaccines