Barriers to childhood immunization / Anna Katrina S. Abedejos, Mary Dianne D. Abis, Markus S. Aboy, Veronica S. Agcaoili, Petrina Rei G. Aguado, Jan Maverick D. Alarcio, Allysa KAye G. Alfonso, Rexver S. Alla, Carl Andrew G. Alvero, Angela Dorothy I. Amanse, Francis Viviene A. Andres, Archie J. Animas, Trisha Mae V. Aquino, Shane Antoinette A. Arante, Mark David C. Arias, Angelica Mae M. Bade, Jamie Danielle S. Bagayao, Nicole Gayle D. Balano, Christine C. Balderas, Maryjoyce M. Bangsil, Carina Lyn D. Batol, Keiffer John Jeremiah T. Belnas, Marie Dominique D. Bolvar, Karl Angelo M. Bonifacio, Allen Jay T. Buan and Bianca A. Bugayong.

Includes appendices and bibliographical references.

Abstract: Vaccination is considered to be one of the most important discoveries which had dramatically decreased children's morbidity rates significantly, but growing sense of uneasiness of its safety has contributed to Filipino parents' refusal to vaccine their children. Three major barriers were identified which included the health system barriers, the provider barriers, and parental barriers. Possible solutions were formulated and a multi component intervention was instituted to empower and support vaccination behaviours. The goal of the study is to identify the different barriers that parents face in regards to immunizing their children. A total of 102 female participants who were all parents with ages ranging from 19 to 69 years old with one child or more whose pediatric ages are within 0 to 18 years old, from Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City, were assessed. A structured interview guided by a questionnaire which was answered by yes or no was used. Interviewed mother were aged 31 to 40 years old (37%), who attained a secondary level od education (66%), married (82%), have 2 children (34%) with a median age of 8 years old. Barriers against childhood immunization varied. However, some were more frequent than others, such as a long lines a the healthcare centers (38%), lack of time (29%), fear of administering vaccines (26%), and unavailability of vaccines (34%). The first two barriers represented over half of the responses (67%), indicating that barriers were associated with the children's parents. Barriers associated with parents were the leading reasons for non-vaccination identifying barriers to immunization can help reduce the number of unvaccinated children.

Thesis - Department of Community & Family Medicine