Determinants of caregivers' vaccination intention with respect to child age group: a cross-sectional survey in South Korea.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined how knowledge, risk perception, health beliefs and multidimensional health locus of control (HLC) were associated with caregivers' intention to vaccinate their child, and how these associations varied across child age groups.


SETTING
South Korea.


METHODS
The cross-sectional survey was conducted via a face-to-face interview among 1017 nationally representative caregivers who had children aged 12 or younger. The outcome variable was caregivers' intention to vaccinate their children.


RESULTS
Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that risk perception was negatively associated with vaccination intention only among the age group 4-6 (β=-0.127, p<0.05). Perceived benefit was the only significant predictor of the outcome variables for all three age groups. In contrast, perceived barrier was negatively related to vaccination intention only among the age group 7-12 (β=-0.104, p<0.05). Internal HLC was positively related to vaccination intention only among the age group 7-12 (β=0.151, p<0.001), while chance HLC was negatively related to vaccination intention only among the age group 0-3 (β=-0.121, p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study identifies key vaccination intention determinants that are differentially associated with caregivers' children's age groups. To improve vaccination rates, it suggests the need for strategies tailored to children's age.
['Paek|Hye-Jin|HJ|', 'Shin|Kyung-Ah|KA|', 'Park|Kisoo|K|']
D000328:Adult D017028:Caregivers D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005260:Female D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D033182:Intention D008297:Male D011159:Population Surveillance D011322:Primary Prevention D011634:Public Health D056910:Republic of Korea D014611:Vaccination
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE PUBLIC HEALTH