 |
|
What Mothers in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program Feel About WIC and Immunization Linkage Activities
A Summary of Focus Groups in Wisconsin
Abigail Shefer, MD;
Jane Mezoff, DrPh;
Diane Caspari, MUP;
Marilyn Bolton;
Patti Herrick
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1998;152:65-70.
Background Although studies indicate that strategies to improve immunization coverage among preschool-age children enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are effective, the attitudes of parents of children enrolled in WIC toward the linkage between WIC and immunization programs is unknown.
Objective To gain a better understanding of how parents using WIC resources feel about the association of WIC and immunization services, their attitudes toward WIC immunization activities, factors that may cause clients to drop out of the program, and the effects of racial background on parent attitudes.
Participants and Methods We conducted 8 focus group sessions with mothers whose children receive WIC services in Milwaukee, Wis. Mothers were between 18 and 35 years old, with at least 1 child between 6 and 24 months of age. The 47 mothers participating were each assigned to 1 of 8 focus groups, including 2 groups each of Asian, white, African American, and Hispanic mothers. A systematic content analysis was conducted for themes and key points within and across ethnic groups.
Results Socially disadvantaged mothers reported their overall experiences in WIC to be very positive. Lengthy waiting time during a WIC visit was identified as the most important barrier to participation. Mothers believed strongly that it was the responsibility of parents to get their children vaccinated, but that WIC staff and the primary care provider should work together to remind parents when vaccinations were due. Mothers expressed very positive attitudes toward the linking of WIC and immunization activities. Telephone reminders and education were mentioned as the best ways to encourage mothers to get their child vaccinated on time. Immunization linkage activities and the requirement that a parent report to a WIC center more frequently if the child was underimmunized were not mentioned as reasons for dropping out of the WIC program; indeed, more frequent visits to a WIC center were actually viewed as a potentially effective strategy by several mothers. Some mothers found obtaining immunizations and WIC services at the same time and place to be very convenient. There did not seem to be any significant differences among ethnic groups in attitudes toward immunization linkage activities being performed in WIC.
Conclusions Mothers with preschool-age children enrolled in WIC feel that the linkage of immunization activities with WIC services is a helpful way to improve the health of their children. This linkage was not identified as a contributing factor for leaving the WIC program.
From the Immunization Services Division, National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga (Drs Shefer and Mezoff); City of Milwaukee Health Department, Milwaukee, Wis (Ms Caspari); and the State of Wisconsin Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, Division of Health, Regional Offices, Milwaukee (Ms Bolton), and Madison (Ms Herrick).
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Understanding and Managing Neurally Mediated Syncope in the Adolescent
Rollinson
The Journal of School Nursing 2005;21:200-207.
ABSTRACT
Maternal Characteristics Associated With Vaccination of Young Children
Luman et al.
Pediatrics 2003;111:1215-1218.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Reducing waiting times associated with an integrated child health service
Clow et al.
The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health 2002;122:245-250.
ABSTRACT
Voucher Incentives to Increase Childhood Immunization Rates
Golden et al.
JAMA 1999;281:702-703.
FULL TEXT
Impact of a Large-Scale Immunization Initiative in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Hoekstra et al.
JAMA 1998;280:1143-1147.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Don't Compromise the Medical Home
Zanga et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1998;152:714-715.
FULL TEXT
|
