PARENTAL PERCEPTIONS OF BARRIERS TO CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION - RESULTS OF FOCUS GROUPS CONDUCTED IN AN URBAN-POPULATION

The current US immunization rates for 2 year olds are approximately ha lf of the goal set for the year 2000, Research studies have focused pr imarily on the perception of health care providers in the identificati on of barriers and benefits to childhood immunization, While health ca re providers are an important part of the immunization delivery proces s, the perceptions of parents are also important, In this study, quali tative methods were used to explore perceived parental barriers to chi ldhood immunization delivery, Twelve focus groups comprising White, Af rican-American, Hispanic, urban and non-urban people were conducted at a variety of sites, including clinics, churches, schools and work sit es, The results indicated that time off from work, access to well-chil d care and difficulty understanding the complexity of the immunization schedule were seen as barriers to adhering to an immunization schedul e, Participants emphasized problems in taking time off from work to ge t immunizations, sometimes without pay, and expressed fears that doing so would jeopardize promotions and raises, While some of the parental perceptions were similar to those identified in studies of health car e providers in the literature, many were not, This study emphasizes th e importance of gathering information from parents as well as from hea lth care providers.