Childrens Immunisation and Health Screening Survey

   Page tools:

    NAME OF ORGANISATION
    Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

    OVERVIEW

    The survey was conducted to obtain information about the immunisation coverage of children aged 0 - 6 years, relative to the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NH&MRC) Standard Childhood Vaccination Schedule, and about the sight, hearing and dental screening of children aged 0 - 14 years.

    PURPOSE

    To determine the immunisation status of children, overall and within population groups, and enable changes over time in immunisation levels and patterns to be monitored.

    To determine the levels of screening of children for sight, hearing and dental conditions, overall and within population groups, and enable changes in the levels and patterns of screening to be monitored over time.

    SCOPE

    All children aged 0 - 14 years usual residents of private dwellings and whose parents or guardians were in on scope and coverage. Excluded were children of :

    • members of the permanent defence forces,
    • diplomatic personnel of overseas governments customarily excluded from Census and estimated populations,
    • overseas residents in Australia
    • members of non-Australian defence forces

    DATA DETAIL

    Conceptual framework

    The Childrens Immunisation and Health Screening Survey provides a measure of the immunisation coverage of children aged 0 - 6 years, relative to the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NH&MRC) Standard Childhood Vaccination Schedule, and about the sight, hearing and dental screening of children aged 0 - 14 years.

    Main outputs

    Immunisation status of children aged 0 - 6 years by type of condition x sex, age, family characteristics, where vaccinations received, reasons for non-vaccination, States and Territories and Australia. Also usage of baby health centres, children 0 - 3 years.

    Sight and hearing tests and dental visits of children 0 - 14 years x sex, age, family characteristics, age at first test, reasons for most recent test, States and Territories and Australia. Also tests at baby health clinics, children 0 - 3 years.

    Classifications

    ABS standard classifications were used for items describing standard socio-demographic characteristcs.

    The principal survey specific classification used was Immunisation Status, based on the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Recommended Childhood Immunisation Schedule; summary information contained in Children's' Immunisation, Australia (ABS Cat No. 4352.0).

    Other concepts (summary)

    Not applicable

    GEOGRAPHIC DETAIL
    Australia
    New South Wales
    Victoria
    Queensland
    South Australia
    Western Australia
    Tasmania
    Northern Territory
    ACT

    Comments and/or Other Regions

    Not applicable

    COLLECTION FREQUENCY
    Adhoc

    Frequency comments

    Unlikely to be repeated.

    COLLECTION HISTORY

    Children's immunisation was initially covered as a Monthly Population Survey (MPS) Supplementary topic in 1983. The topic was included in the 1989-90 National Health Survey (NHS). The topic was again identified as a high priority for inclusion in the 1995 NHS, before being included in the MPS program for conduct in April 1995.

    Children's health screening was specifically covered previously only in the Sight, Hearing and Dental Health Survey conducted in 1979. More general data on children's use of health services have been obtained in the 1977-78 and 1983 Australian Health Surveys, and the 1989-90 and 1995 NHS.

    DATA AVAILABILITY
    Yes

    Data availability comments




    DATE OF LAST UPDATE FOR THIS DOCUMENT
    14/09/2004 11:30 AM