Children's health and the social theory of risk: Insights from the British measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) controversy

• Published in: Social science & medicine (1982) 2007-09, Vol.65 (5), p.1059-1070
• Main Author: Casiday, Rachel Elizabeth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitude to Health; Autism; Biological and medical sciences; Child care; Child Welfare; Child, Preschool; Children; Children's health; Contraindications; Decision Making; England; Focus Groups; General aspects; Health policy; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunization; Immunotherapy, Active - utilization; Infectious diseases; Interviews; Interviews as Topic; Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; Medical Decision Making; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; mumps and rubella (MMR); Parents; Parents & parenting; Public health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Risk; Risk Assessment; Risk factors; Risk perception; Social sciences; Social Theories; Trust; UK Vaccination Risk Children's health Decision-making Vulnerability Measles; United Kingdom; Vaccination; Vaccines; Viral diseases; Viral diseases with cutaneous or mucosal lesions and viral diseases of the eye; Vulnerability
• ISSN: 0277-9536; 1873-5347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.04.023

Recent debates in the United Kingdom about the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and its alleged link with autism have centred on contested notions of risk. This paper presents findings from 87 parents’ focus group and interview discussions of their decision-making about the vaccine in light of three streams of theoretical literature on risk (cultural theory, risk society, psychometric models of risk perception) and models of vaccination acceptance and resistance. In addition to the risks of infectious disease and autism, parents balanced other risk concerns—both biological and social—in making their decisions. Such decisions, made on behalf of children unable to choose for themselves, and in the midst of contradictory information and uncertainty, symbolised what it means to be a ‘good parent’. To cope with uncertainty, parents sought explanations for why some children seem to be more vulnerable to adverse outcomes than others. Debates about children's risks may need special theoretical consideration beyond that offered by the current risk literature. Specific aspects of the MMR debate, namely, selecting between potentially competing risks, making risk judgements on behalf of dependent others, and tensions between private and public good, provide a platform for exploring how social theories of risk might be adapted for children's health controversies.