Ge. White et An. Thomson, AS EVERY GOOD MOTHER SHOULD - CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION IN NEW-ZEALAND -A QUALITATIVE STUDY, Health & social care in the community, 3(2), 1995, pp. 73-82
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath","Social Work
Immunization coverage is a cause for concern in both developed and dev
eloping countries. In New Zealand immunization uptake rates have been
estimated at less than 60% for children under the age of 2 years old.
A qualitative exploration of knowledge, experiences and concerns appea
red necessary to supplement the quantitative data and offer some expla
nations for low uptake. Focus groups and individual interviews were he
ld with primary child caregivers in Auckland, a major multi-cultural m
etropolis of New Zealand. A total of 67 parents took part of whom 97%
were mothers. Discussion focused on identifying the knowledge and expe
riences participants had of childhood diseases and immunizations, and
on their concerns. Interview data were analysed following construction
of role ordered and conceptually clustered matrices. The results demo
nstrated limited knowledge and a lack of experience regarding childhoo
d diseases. Some mothers conceptualized immunization using a metaphor
of 'protection'. Others perceived immunization as socio-politically dr
iven and were distrustful of immunization campaigns. Many mothers face
d a dilemma about immunization and were highly anxious. There was a gr
eater concern about the side effects of immunization than about the si
de effects of childhood diseases. This may reflect a 'developed world'
view with a difference between the concerns of white middle class mot
hers, and those mothers from the Pacific Islands, where common childho
od diseases are more endemic. Predominantly the onus for immunization
lay with mothers and this was not considered to be sufficiently recogn
ized by health service providers. Personalized programmes designed to
meet the needs of mothers are required to complement existing populati
on oriented immunization programmes.