Perinatal influences on the uptake of newborn Vitamin K prophylaxis--a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To describe rates of newborn vitamin K prophylaxis uptake according to method of administration (intramuscular [IM], oral, refused) and identify predictors for the choice of oral administration and for refusal of vitamin K prophylaxis.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study examined the relationship between method of vitamin K administration and various exposure factors (infant, maternal, socio-demographic and healthcare professional). Written and electronic data for births from a single tertiary birthing unit in New Zealand (NZ) were examined over a four-year period from January 2009 to December 2012.

Declining newborn intramuscular vitamin K prophylaxis predicts subsequent immunisation refusal: A retrospective cohort study.

Aim: Low rates of childhood immunisation are linked to outbreaks of infectious disease. Identifying and addressing barriers to immunisation may lead to improved immunisation rates. Immunisation and newborn vitamin K prophylaxis have many similarities.