IMMUNIZATION UPTAKE AND PARENTAL PERCEPTIONS IN A STRICTLY ORTHODOX JEWISH-COMMUNITY IN NORTHEAST LONDON

Background We wished to ascertain immunization uptake rates in the str ictly orthodox Jewish community in Hackney and to survey reasons for n on-uptake and attitudes to immunization and immunization services with in this community. Methods A total of 575 strictly orthodox Jewish chi ldren, aged under 2-5 years, were identified from three general practi ces in the community, and a random sampling of 100 of these childre wa s carried out. The sample uptake recorded by family doctors was compar ed with District uptake rates. A questionnaire was administered to par ents. The main outcome measures were immunization uptake rate, reasons for non-uptake, and attitudes to immunization. Results Percentage imm unization uptake (95 per cent confidence intervals) was: third diphthe ria 86 per cent (82-90 per cent); third pertussis 82 per cent (78-86 p er cent); and MMR 79 per cent (75-85 per cent). District uptake rates for a cohort of the same age, and at the time of the study, were: thir d diphtheria 82 per cent; third pertussis 79 per cent; and MMR 83 per cent. Sixty-seven parents completed the questionnaire (72 per cent res ponse) and their children's uptake was the same as for children of non responders. All parents thought immunization to be important. Conclusi ons For all immunizations, uptake in the strictly orthodox Jewish comm unity is not significantly different from that of the District. Respon ding parents had positive attitudes to the value and safety of immuniz ations but wished better access to services. Health professionals need to question their perceptions so that efforts to improve uptake among st ethnic minority groups are based on facts and are responsive to ide ntified needs.