Background
Parental concerns about immunization safety have been covered widely in the media
and on the Internet and have been correlated in some studies with under-immunization
and the late receipt of immunizations.
Objectives
Phase 1: To (1) measure the prevalence of parents with immunization safety concern,
specifically those with high-level concern, (2) determine demographic characteristics
and attitudes typical for this subgroup of parents, and (3) determine factors that
influence such parents, nevertheless, to have their children immunized. Phase 2: To
further explore the racial/ethnic difference found in the first-phase results, specifically
to compare the immunization attitudes of Hispanic (both black and white) and non-Hispanic
black parents with those of non-Hispanic white parents.
Methods
ConsumerStyles (2004) survey data of a nationwide panel of U.S. adults were analyzed
in January 2006. In Phase 1, bivariate and logistic regression analyses were used
to identify factors associated with parental concerns about immunization safety. In
Phase 2, logistic regression was used to compare immunization attitudes among non-Hispanic
black; Hispanic (both black and white); and non-Hispanic white parents.
Results
The response rate was 62% (6207/10,000); analysis was restricted to the 2937 (47%)
respondents who were parents with a child aged 18 years or younger; 634 (21%) responded
with the highest level of concern, 5 on a 1-to-5-point scale. Demographics (Hispanic
ethnicity/nonwhite race, low income, and less education) and negative attitudes toward
immunization and the child’s healthcare provider were significantly associated with
high-level concern. Seventy-two percent of parents with high-level concern responded
that the risk of a child getting a disease was their primary reason for having their
child immunized, while 17% listed state laws requiring immunizations for school/daycare
entry. Importantly, black parents were more likely than white parents to have negative
attitudes toward immunizations and their child’s healthcare provider.
Conclusions
One fifth of parents reported high-level concern with the safety of childhood immunizations.
To prevent the erosion of childhood immunization rates, healthcare providers need
to learn how to recognize and address these concerns.
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: July 14, 2006
Footnotes
At the time of the study, IMS was a research fellow with the Association of Schools of Public Health, Washington DC.
Identification
Copyright
© 2006 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
