Jun 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2577-137X.ji-16-1026
Juliet N. BabiryeCorresponding author
Millions of children continue to miss immunizations each year despite global increases in financing and advances in vaccine technology. Male involvement in routine child immunization activities could improve and sustain coverage but is rarely emphasized in immunization programs or research. This study identified factors associated with male involvement in routine child immunization using the attitude, social influence and self-efficacy model.A household cluster survey was conducted among 460 fathers aged 18 years or more, with children aged 10-23 months. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Prevalence Risk Ratios (PRRs) were used to measure associations with level of involvement using generalized linear models with Poisson family, log link and robust standard errors in STATA 12. Our findings show that half (51%, 236/460) of the respondents were aged 25-34 years; 36% (166/460) had completed eight or more years of formal education. Although90% (415/460) of the respondents were willing to be involved, only 29% (133/460) were highly involved in routine child immunization. Highly involved fathers had a positive attitude towards involvement in routine child immunization (adj. PRR 2.3, 95% CI 1.18 – 4.98) and were ≥45 years adjusted prevalence risk ratio (adj. PRR) 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15 - 3.76. Traders had a lower involvement compared to those engaged in other occupations (adj. PRR 0.55, 95% CI: 0.37 - 0.82). In conclusion, few fathers were involved in routine child immunization. Strategies to improve fathers’ positive attitude such as health education are needed to increase their involvement, specifically targeting younger fathers and traders.
Sep 2026 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-26-6405
Chuxuan ZhangCorresponding author
Despite the availability of influenza vaccines and recommendations, vaccination rates among the Chinese population have remained low and below desired public health targets. This student-led study examined how Chinese parents understand and make decisions about influenza vaccination. Using perception, trust, and behavioral access as an organizing framework for the analysis, the authors analyzed closed-ended survey items and optional open-ended responses involving 165 eligible parents of school-age children in selected regions of China. The brief contextual comparison with Australia was made with evidence from policy documents and published literature, which helped interpret the findings within a broader public health system context. The results show that in this sample, risk awareness was less important than confidence, trust, and behavioral access with respect to vaccination behavior. Parents of children who had been vaccinated, and those whose children had not, experienced similar levels of perceived risk. By contrast, parents of vaccinated children were found to have increased belief in the effectiveness of the vaccination, greater perceived necessity of annual vaccination, greater trust in the doctor, greater confidence in medical recommendations, greater convenience of the vaccination, and more social influence supporting vaccination. Some of the most reported barriers were concerns about side effects, uncertainty about whether the vaccines would be effective, and a lack of physician recommendation among unvaccinated respondents. Looking to Australia suggested that system design may make vaccination more visible, routine, and easy to do. This study finds that providing information or vaccines alone may not enhance influenza vaccination uptake. Public health strategies may need to work on increasing confidence in vaccine effectiveness, enhancing trust and encouraging action by giving clear provider recommendations, and making vaccination easier, more visible, and better socially supported.