Influence of parental knowledge and opinions on 12-month diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccination rates
T. Lewis, L. M. Osborn, K. Lewis, J. Brockert, J. Jacobsen and J. D. Cherry
Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah Medical School, Salt Lake City.
To assess the magnitude and cause of decreasing diphtheria, tetanus
toxoids, and pertussis (DTP) immunization rates, a retrospective cohort
study investigated the immunization status against pertussis among
1-year-old children in Utah. Questionnaires were sent to the parents of
2975 children born in June 1985. Parents were asked about each child's DTP
immunization status, including the number, type, and dates of the
vaccinations, reasons for or against vaccination, and their knowledge of
whooping cough and the vaccine. Children were considered adequately
immunized against pertussis when they had received three DTP vaccinations
by their first birthday. In Utah, the lack of pertussis immunization among
young children is a serious problem: greater than 30% of 1-year-old
children were not adequately protected. Accurate parental knowledge about
the relative risks of vaccination and illness was associated with a greater
likelihood for immunization. Although some parents chose to forego the
vaccination because they were concerned about its side effects, the most
common reason for incomplete immunization was illness at the time the
vaccination was to be given. If immunization rates are to improve, health
care professionals must not only make an effort to educate the general
population regarding the vaccine, but they must also ensure immediate
follow-up for immunization when the procedure is delayed.
