Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to evaluate the impact of a public-private project through immunization coverage levels and parental KAB.

Background:
Low immunization coverage in central Los Angeles in 1997, resulted in a public-private collaboration, the Rescatando Salud/Health Rescue Project. Since then every three years in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Immunization Program, the project's impact is assessed through community wide surveys that highlight immunization coverage levels over time. Currently we compare baseline data collected in 2002 to follow-up data collected in 2005.

Objectives:
Evaluate the impact of the project through immunization coverage and parental KAB.

Methods:
In 2002 baseline surveys were administered in randomly selected blocks in three zip codes associated with low immunization coverage. One child per household (24-35months) was chosen and data on immunization coverage and parental KAB rates were obtained. In 2005, follow-up surveys in the same zip codes were conducted.

Results:
Immunization coverage levels for the 4:3:1:3:3 series at 24-months increased by 6% (2002: 79% vs. 2005: 85%) when compared to baseline. Individual antigen coverage rates at 24 months of age surpassed the Healthy People 2010 goal of 90% per antigen, and when compared to 2002 baseline data, only MMR and Hib rates slightly declined, however not below 90%. The KAB component showed a 7% increase in knowledge of simultaneous administration compared to baseline (2002: 76% vs. 2005: 83%) and a significant association between knowledge and being up-to-date was detected (p=0.0012). Belief in the importance of children being up-to-date increased from 76% at baseline to 100% at follow up a 24% increase in belief.

Conclusions:
Although increases were not significant, our evaluation suggests the project is having an impact on the community through increased immunization coverage levels and enhanced parental KAB rates compared to 2002 baseline data.