title: Perceived barriers to immunizations as identified by Latino mothers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Identify low-income Latino mothers' perceived barriers to immunizations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 1-month survey was conducted in a Southern California, low-income primary care clinic. Mothers of Latino children aged 2 months to 18 years were surveyed in Spanish using a 52-question immunization survey.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Latino mothers' perception of immunizations and knowledge of up-to-date status greatly influenced their children's immunization status. In addition, Latino children had lower immunization rates and encountered more barriers to immunizations than children in other population groups despite government efforts to provide vaccines to healthcare providers at no cost to assist low-income children. Most mothers (92%) believed their children were up-to-date on immunizations; however, immunization records documented that 42% of the children were current based on age. The most common barriers reported were that the child was sick at the time of the visit (51%) and/or transportation problems (39%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When working with low-income, uninsured Latinos, nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals with low immunization rates in their clinic must assess the barriers to immunization and implement an action plan.
authors: SAC Health System, Loma Linda University School of Nursing/Clinical Faculty, Loma Linda, California, USA. aadorador@llu.edu
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Adorador
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: McNulty
authors: Dynnette
authors: D
authors: Hart
authors: Joyce J
authors: JJ
authors: Fitzpatrick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D011203:Poverty; D055815:Young Adult