Parents' reported reasons for avoiding MMR vaccination. A telephone survey.
OBJECTIVE
During the second half of the 1990s and the first years of the 2000s a declining coverage for MMR vaccination in two-year-olds was observed in Sweden. The aim was to assess reasons for postponement or non-vaccination.


METHODS
A telephone survey using a structured questionnaire on parents' attitudes regarding their choice to postpone or abstain from vaccinating their child.


METHODS
The County of Ostergötland in Sweden.


METHODS
A total of 203 parents of children who had no registered date for MMR vaccination at a Child Health Centre.


METHODS
Parental reasons for non-vaccination.


RESULTS
In all, 26 of the 203 children had received MMR vaccination but this had not been registered. Of those not vaccinated, 40% of the parents had decided to abstain and 60% to postpone vaccination. Fear of side effects was the most common reason for non-vaccination in both groups. The main source of information was the media followed by the Child Health Centre. Parents with a single child more often postponed vaccination and those who abstained were more likely to have had a discussion with a doctor or nurse about MMR vaccine.


CONCLUSIONS
Postponers and abstainers may have different reasons for their decision. The role of well-trained healthcare staff in giving advice and an opportunity to discuss MMR vaccination with concerned parents is very important.
Dannetun
Eva
E
Department of Communicable Disease Control, Landstinget i Ostergötland, Linköping, Sweden. eva.dannetun@lio.se
Tegnell
Anders
A
Hermansson
Göran
G
Giesecke
Johan
J
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D045808:Refusal to Participate / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D013689:Telephone; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology*
D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine