Perceptions of vaccine efficacy, illness, and health among inner-city parents
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Robert E. Aronson, Associate Professor (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Abstract: Summary: A resurgence of measles in the past decade has focused attention on the limitations of current immunization programs, particularly for inner-city, low-income populations. As part of a larger study of immunization rates, we discussed perceptions of disease severity and vaccine efficacy, as well as the prioritization of the tasks of parenthood, with 40 parents of infants living in inner-city Baltimore to discover their beliefs about immunization. Vaccines were considered only partly successful; susceptibility to chickenpox after vaccination was repeatedly cited as evidence of vaccine failure. Fever was seen as a primary indicator of illness; thus, vaccines were believed to cause, rather than prevent, illness. Immunization was not considered a high-priority parental responsibility. These findings suggest future interventions be aimed at changing parental perceptions of vaccines as ineffective and of fever after immunization as an indicator of illness. Finally, immunizations should be made easily available, even during clinic visits for a child?s illness.
Perceptions of vaccine efficacy, illness, and health among inner-city parents
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Created on 10/20/2010
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Clinical Pediatrics 32(1): 2-7
- Language: English
- Date: 1993
- Keywords
- Vaccine efficacy, Disease severity, Inner-city parents, Illness, Parental perceptions