Associations between maternal attitudes and their decisions to vaccinate their children

Parallel session II: IIb. Family and adolescent health - no. O6b.Background and aims: Pneumonia and diarrhoea are common causes of hospitalisation in Hong Kong children. Rotavirus (RVV), Haemophilus influenzae type b (HibV), influenza (FluV) and varicella (VV) vaccines are licensed in Hong Kong. VV was incorporated in Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme in 2014 but the other three vaccines are only available in the private sector. We investigated associations between maternal attitudes and their decisions to vaccinate their children. Methods: 500 mother-infant pairs were recruited postnatally from two public hospitals in 2014. Demographic information was collected at recruitment and 1 month later mothers completed a telephone questionnaire based on Health Belief Model (HBM) about their attitudes towards pneumonia and diarrhoea and the respective vaccines. Vaccine uptake or intention to vaccinate were documented when children were 6-10 months old. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions analyses examined associations between different components of HBM for specific vaccines/vaccines in general and vaccine uptake/intention to vaccinate using statistical software R version 3.2.1. Results: Uptakes of RVV and HibV were 47% and 28% and vaccination intention of FluV and VV were 33% and 86% respectively. After adjusting for socio-economic status, monthly household income (RVV, HibV, VV) and mothers’ place of birth (FluV), cues to action for specific vaccines were found to be significantly associated with uptake of RVV (OR=1.77; 95%CI: 1.24, 2.62), vaccination intention of FluV (OR=1.50; 95%CI: 1.05, 2.16) and VV (OR=2.14; 95%CI: 1.46, 3.16). Mothers with higher self-efficacy for vaccines in general (OR=2.21; 95%CI: 1.42, 3.47), perceived chickenpox to be more severe (OR=1.47; 95%CI: 1.06, 2.04) and perceived more benefits to VV (OR=2.31; 95%CI: 1.13, 4.73) were more likely to plan to vaccinate their children with VV. Mothers who perceived more benefits to FluV were more likely to intend to give FluV to their children (OR=2.12; 95%CI: 1.29, 3.66). Conclusions: Mothers’ self-efficacy for vaccines in general, cues to action and perceived benefits for specific vaccines and perceived severities of the disease were the factors most strongly associated with their decisions to vaccinate their children

Knowledge and attitudes in relation to rotavirus vaccine in Hong Kong mothers

Conference Theme: Introducing More Vaccines and Reaching Everyon

Hong Kong mothers' beliefs on influenza vaccine

Conference Theme: Introducing More Vaccines and Reaching Everyon

Rotavirus vaccine effectiveness in Hong Kong young children

Session 3: Poster Sessio

Inclusion of vaccines into the childhood immunisation programme and association with mothers’ decision to vaccinate their children

pp. 214-226 of this journal issue entitled: Proceedings of Congress: 3rd Annual Scientific Meeting: Hong Kong College of PaediatricansOral Presentation - Free Paper SessionBACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases determines whether vaccines should be included in the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme (CIP). Vaccine in the CIP are administered at Maternal Child Health Centres at no cost to the parents. Vaccines not in the CIP are mainly available in the private sector and parents pay out-of-pocket if they want their children vaccinated. We investigated the association between vaccination uptake/ intention and vaccine inclusion in the CIP. METHODS: A sample of 500 postpartum mothers were recruited from postnatal wards at two public hospitals from May to August 2014. When the children reached 6 months old, postal questionnaires with telephone follow-up if necessary collected details of vaccination uptake (vaccines scheduled below 6 months) and maternal vaccination intention (vaccines scheduled after 6 months). Chi-square tests and logistic mixed models were performed using statistical software R version 3.2.1. RESULTS: One family left Hong Kong and 6 mothers quitted the study before 6 months. Of those mothers followed-up, 372 (75%) responded to the 6-month questionnaires of which 314 (84%) provided copies of immunisation records. Uptake of vaccines scheduled before 6 months and in CIP (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis and injectable Polio, conjugate pneumococcal) was 100% but significantly less for those not in CIP (Haemophilus influenzae type b (28%) and rotavirus (47%)). Excluding vaccines for travelers and older children, four vaccines are available for routine use after 6 months of age (Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine [MMR], varicella, influenza and Hepatitis A vaccines). 88% and 86% mothers intended to give MMR and varicella to their children in the future respectively but less intended to give vaccines not in the CIP (influenza (33%) and Hepatitis A (32%)). Inclusion of a vaccine in the CIP was significantly associated with both the overall vaccination uptake (p<0.0001) and intention (p<0.0001). Family household income was not a moderator of the association between CIP inclusion and vaccination intention (p=0.064). CONCLUSIONS: Inclusion of a vaccine in the CIP was strongly associated with both vaccination uptake and maternal intention