title: "Nature Does Things Well, Why Should We Interfere?": Vaccine Hesitancy Among Mothers.
abstract: Parents' decision to use vaccination services is complex and multi-factorial. Of particular interest are "vaccine-hesitant" parents who are in the middle of the continuum between vaccine acceptance and refusal. The objective of this qualitative longitudinal study was to better understand why mothers choose to vaccinate-or not-their newborns. Fifty-six pregnant mothers living in different areas of Quebec (Canada) were interviewed. These interviews gathered information on mothers' views about health and vaccination. Almost half of the mothers were categorized as vaccine-hesitant. A second interview was conducted with these mothers 3 to 11 months after birth to look at their actual decision and behavior concerning vaccination. Our results show the heterogeneity of factors influencing vaccine decision making. Although the majority of vaccine-hesitant mothers finally chose to follow the recommended vaccine schedule for their child, they were still ambivalent and they continued to question their decision.
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Québec City, Québec, Canada eve.dube@inspq.qc.ca.
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dubé
authors.affiliation: Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec City, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Maryline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vivion
authors.affiliation: Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec City, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sauvageau
authors.affiliation: CHU de Sherbrooke, Québec City, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gagneur
authors.affiliation: Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Raymonde
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.affiliation: Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Maryse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011792:Quebec; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: decision making; immunization; interviews; longitudinal studies; mothers, mothering