Demands and expectations of parents who refuse vaccinations and perspective of health professional on the refusal to vaccinate

• Published in: Anales de pediatría (Barcelona, Spain : 2003) Spain : 2003), 2014-06, Vol.80 (6), p.370
• Main Authors: Martínez-Diz, S, Martínez Romero, M, Fernández-Prada, M, Cruz Piqueras, M, Molina Ruano, R, Fernández Sierra, M A
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Subjects: Attitude to Health; Child; Health Personnel; Humans; Parents; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Refusal; Vaccination
• ISSN: 1695-9531
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2013.08.009

To examine the opinions, beliefs and attitudes about vaccination, of parents who decide not to vaccinate their children. To determine the opinions and attitudes of the health professionals on the behaviour towards childhood vaccination. Qualitative research based on semi-structured interviews and focal groups in Granada, Spain, including parents who chose to not vaccinate their children, and healthcare professionals who can provide a technical point of view. An analysis was made of the semantic content, and answers were categorized in thematic units. The parents argued on the benefit of suffering vaccine-preventable diseases in a natural way, without non-natural, aggressive or toxic products. Vaccination was considered unnecessary, if given adequate hygienic-sanitary conditions, effectiveness unproven and more dangerous than the diseases they prevent, especially the polyvalent vaccines. They believed that vaccination programs are moved by biased studies and interests other than prevention. Health care professionals believe that they had fears without scientific basis, which requires improving information systems. Non-vaccinators are unaware of the benefit/risk ratio between the vaccination and the individual risk for preventable diseases, and ask for informed consent. Health care professionals believe that non-vaccinators' arguments are not correctly contrasted and expose the existence of failures in actual vaccination coverage and information registration systems. It was suggested to centralize registers and compare them in schools, working with local leaders and reporting regularly on the status of vaccine-preventable diseases.