"Second Generation" immigrants children: health prevention for a new population in terms of vaccination coverage and health assessment.

In the last years the total number of foreigners residing in Italy is increasing. The number of children born in Italy by foreign parents account for 15% of all babies born in the country, this population is defined as "second generation immigrants". We evaluated health conditions of this particular population through the study of the vaccinations coverage and auxological data in a group of foreign children living in a foster care and we compared these data with another group of foreign children living with their parents. Our study was conducted in a foster care in Rome. The Pediatrics ambulatory of A. Gemelli Hospital of Rome provided all data for comparison. We described two groups of children (60 in a foster care, G1; 91 children living with their parents, G2; 112 healthy controls, G3) with similar characteristics. There were statistical differences between groups as regard the administration of Hexavalent vaccine higher in G2 vs G1 (8 4,6% vs 65,0%)(p<0,01); about Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine G2 vs G1 (6 9,0% vs 47,5%)(p<0,05); about Heptavalent Pneumococcal Vaccine G1 21/60 vs G2 20/91 ( 35,0% vs 21,9%)(p >0,05) and about Serogroup C Meningococcal vaccine G1 10/60 vs G2 17/91 (16,7% vs 18,7%) (p> 0.05). As regards auxological parameters weren't statistically differences between groups. So we think that Italian National Health System should have particular health programme to provide this risk--group needs. In particular we think that to increase the vaccination coverage the Paediatrician have a fundamental role in term of promotion and education of the immigrant families.