Parents' knowledge of and attitude towards the primary childhood immunisations.
Parental knowledge of immunisation is essential to assist public health initiatives to increase the uptake rates. A cross-sectional survey design was employed to ascertain the knowledge and attitude of the primary childhood immunisations in randomly selected parents in a deprived inner-city area; 82% of 93 responded. Parents' reported uptake of immunisation was compared with general practitioner and official health board records. Respondents with a low standard of education (70% of respondents without a Leaving Certificate versus 44% with the Leaving Certificate p=0.06) and parenting alone (69% versus 49% of two-parent families p=0.07) were less aware of the severity of the diseases. Older parents (58%) questioned immunisation safety more than younger parents (28%), p=0.06. Full immunisation was reported by 91% of parents compared to 81% from the general practitioners records and 70% from health board figures. The poor correlation between parents' reported immunisation uptake and official immunisation sources could be improved through the use of personal identification numbers.
Deady
J
J
Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Centre for Health Sciences, Adelaide, Meath and National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24.
Thornton
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires