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What mothers say about why poor children fall behind on immunizations. A summary of focus groups in North Carolina.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lannon, C; Brack, V; Stuart, J; Caplow, M; McNeill, A; Bordley, WC; Margolis, P
Published in: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med
October 1995

OBJECTIVES: To develop a more thorough understanding of the factors that impede poor parents' utilization of health care services for their children and to refine interventions to improve immunization rates. METHODS: We conducted focus group sessions with mothers whose children received care at the health departments in five North Carolina counties. Mothers were uninsured or were receiving Medicaid. A total of 50 women participated; group size varied from three to seven mothers. RESULTS: Socially disadvantaged mothers faced barriers at multiple points in the process of obtaining preventive care for their children. Organizational barriers, such as a lack of flexibility in scheduling and long waiting times, were exacerbated by personal barriers, such as a lack of reliable transportation, chaotic home environments, and employment conflicts. Lack of knowledge regarding the timing of childhood immunizations and misperceptions about the safety of immunizations were also important obstacles. Mothers made several suggestions, such as changes in scheduling, greater assistance with transportation, improved waiting facilities, and increased health education. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that even with improved financing of well-child care, many important barriers to adequate immunization will remain. Many of the changes that mothers in our focus groups advocated are not related to insurance coverage and would be simple and inexpensive to implement. To help with these changes, we developed a checklist for use by health departments to determine which organizational barriers exist at their facility and suggest strategies to overcome the problems. Organizational, personal, and attitudinal barriers pose serious problems for socioeconomically disadvantaged families. To improve vaccination rates for children, new personnel and programs are probably less important than careful strategies to maximize existing resources.

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Published In

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med

DOI

ISSN

1072-4710

Publication Date

October 1995

Volume

149

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1070 / 1075

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Poverty
  • Pediatrics
  • North Carolina
  • Motivation
  • Mothers
  • Medically Uninsured
  • Medicaid
  • Infant
  • Immunization
 

Citation

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Lannon, C., Brack, V., Stuart, J., Caplow, M., McNeill, A., Bordley, W. C., & Margolis, P. (1995). What mothers say about why poor children fall behind on immunizations. A summary of focus groups in North Carolina. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 149(10), 1070–1075. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.1995.02170230024003
Lannon, C., V. Brack, J. Stuart, M. Caplow, A. McNeill, W. C. Bordley, and P. Margolis. “What mothers say about why poor children fall behind on immunizations. A summary of focus groups in North Carolina.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 149, no. 10 (October 1995): 1070–75. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.1995.02170230024003.
Lannon C, Brack V, Stuart J, Caplow M, McNeill A, Bordley WC, et al. What mothers say about why poor children fall behind on immunizations. A summary of focus groups in North Carolina. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1995 Oct;149(10):1070–5.
Lannon, C., et al. “What mothers say about why poor children fall behind on immunizations. A summary of focus groups in North Carolina.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, vol. 149, no. 10, Oct. 1995, pp. 1070–75. Pubmed, doi:10.1001/archpedi.1995.02170230024003.
Lannon C, Brack V, Stuart J, Caplow M, McNeill A, Bordley WC, Margolis P. What mothers say about why poor children fall behind on immunizations. A summary of focus groups in North Carolina. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1995 Oct;149(10):1070–1075.

Published In

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med

DOI

ISSN

1072-4710

Publication Date

October 1995

Volume

149

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1070 / 1075

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Poverty
  • Pediatrics
  • North Carolina
  • Motivation
  • Mothers
  • Medically Uninsured
  • Medicaid
  • Infant
  • Immunization