title: [Survey of the use of vaccination against measles and pertussis in a city of the Milanese hinterland].
abstract: In april 1986 a questionnaire was submitted to the mothers of a randomized sample of children born in 1984 in a city of the hinterland of Milan. The aim of the investigation was to get information on the level of knowledge of the population on pertussis and measles diseases and on pertussis and measles vaccinations that are optional in our country. The mothers were also asked to specify the reasons of not having vaccinated their children. Aut of 146 questionnaires distributed, 137 (93%) were filled. According to the mother's recall, 22 (16%) children had been vaccinated against pertussis and 36 (26%) against measles. On the whole, the results indicate that the lack of pertussis and measles vaccinations was mainly due to ignorance about the diseases and about the vaccines. Indeed, the reasons for the lack of vaccination most frequently given by the mothers were: " belief that a child msut get these diseases" (23% of the answers for pertussis and 36% for measles), " ignorance of the availability of vaccines " (32% for anti-pertussis and 16% for anti-measles vaccination); "poor knowledge on the facilities in which to get child vaccinated" (23% for anti-pertussis and 16% for anti-measles vaccination). Moreover, on the total of the 137 interviewed mothers only 37% and 56%, respectively, knew that natural pertussis and natural measles may be accompanied or followed by complications. The frequency of the various answers was rather homogeneous regardless of the mother's schooling and of mother being a house-wife or working outside the home. It is therefore concluded that to obtain a satisfactory compliance to measles and pertussis vaccinations, it is necessary to educate parents and to improve their knowledge of the diseases and of the benefits of the vaccines.
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Profeta
authors: G M
authors: GM
authors: Lecchi
authors: S
authors: S
authors: De Donato
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Fraizzoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine
vernacular_title: Inchiesta sulla applicazione delle vaccinazioni contro la pertosse e contro il morbillo in una citta dell'hinterland Milanese.