OBJECTIVETo evaluate the authenticity of the parents' memory on their children's immunization status.

METHODSTwo counties and 1 district in each of the 18 prefectures were selected, and parents of the children 1 - 2 years old, residents in counties or floating in district, were studied on the authenticity of their memory regarding their children's immunization status.

RESULTSThe rates of inoculation with all the four expanded programme on immunization (EPI) vaccines were 89.7% in the whole province, and 77.9% among floating children. The authenticity of the reply from parents on their children, inoculation status with vaccines was above 96%. However, less than 50% of the parents could remember what specific vaccines that their children had received. The authenticity of parents' memory was higher in the parents with high school or college education than those who were illiterates or only having had elementary school education. Mothers had better memory than the fathers. Of the children whose parents could not remember the vaccination status, 97% of them had been inoculated.

CONCLUSIONThe definite answer of parents to children's immunization status had high creditability, especially when the mothers having had more schooling. Those children whose parents failed to remember whether vaccination had been received should not be ranked as unimmuned.