Further Analysis of National Participation in the Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccination Program, 1955-61

AMEASUKE of the acceptance of inacti¬ vated poliomyelitis vaccine by various population segments is important both to those concerned with its effective community applica¬ tion and to those concerned with the continuing measurement of its effectiveness.A substantial body of data relating to the acceptance of inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine has been ob¬ tained annually since 1957 through the Current Population Survey conducted by the Bureau of the Census.An analysis of this data by age group alone has been presented by Sirken (1).Utilizing information from the same source, this paper supplements Sirken's presentation with a more extensive analysis of the data by a number of other variables, including age and sex, age and race, geographic region, geographic division, type of area (urban or rural), and income.Although some observations concerning motivational factors are made, the primary purpose is to describe the extent of participa¬ tion.The sociological and motivational factors affecting this participation have been well recorded in the literature {2-10). Study MethodsTrend statistics in this report are based on five national household surveys conducted annually since 1957.These surveys were sponsored by the Public Health Service and conducted by the Bureau of the Census as supplements to its monthly Current Population Survey which in¬ cludes 35,000 households.A description of the Current Population Survey has already ap¬ peared (11).Additional details concerning the Current Population Survey methods and sample design were included in a report based on the 1957 survey ( 12).The reliability of the estimated percentages derived from these annual surveys is discussed in the statistical note appearing on p. 479.The final table contains the approximate standard errors of estimated percentages, computed for selected sizes of the population base, which may be used to make tests of differences between two percentages. DefinitionsThe Current Population Survey covers the civilian noninstitutional population.Conse¬ quently, the Armed Forces and persons resid- ing in institutions are excluded from estimates in this report.The variables used in the study are defined as follows:Age.The age classification was based on the age of the person at his last birthday.Race.Persons were classified as white or non¬ white in accordance with the U.S. Bureau of the Census definitions (13).Geographic region and division.The four geographic regions and nine divisions are those Mr.