Parent-dependent barriers to XXXX immunization in Israel: the importance of adequate information.

@entity1 @entity1573 @entity221 @entity992
AIM: To examine the parent-dependent barriers to @entity992 immunization in Israel. METHODS: Data were collected by questionnaire from parents of @entity1 aged 1 to 18 years who attended an outpatient paediatric centre in five cities in Israel from March to May 2003. RESULTS: A total of 1474 parents completed the questionnaire. A history of @entity1573 pox was reported in 850 @entity1 (57.8%), mostly (83%) between ages 1-6 years. Of the 624 @entity1 without a history of @entity1573 pox, 213 (34.1%) were immunized against @entity992 . Immunization rates were significantly lower in families with lower parental education and in @entity1 from cities with a lower socioeconomic ranking (p < 0.05). The main reasons for not being vaccinated (49%) were related to insufficient information about the vaccine itself and the vaccination process. These reasons were more common in families with lower parental education and from cities with lower socioeconomic ranking (p < 0.01). Other reasons included fear of adverse effects (12%) and waning immunity (6%), preference of @entity221 over immunization (12%), and financial limitations (5%). CONCLUSIONS: Promoting parental knowledge about the @entity992 vaccine appears to be a key factor in improving the immunization rate, especially in families of lower education, and from cities with low socioeconomic ranking.
