The meaning of vaccination. How do parents in India justify a choice no to vaccinate their children?
Abstract
Even though the government emphasize on the importance of immunization in India, the
vaccine preventable diseases are still prevailing in the country. The perception of parents
regarding vaccines vary according to different situations. This affects their choice regarding
vaccines, whether to accept, decline or delay vaccines. Moreover, there are many factors that
affect the vaccination uptake and many methods are suggested to improve vaccine coverage.
Identifying the perceptions of parents, factors that hinders the process and the methods adopted
to overcome the problem are important to improve the immunization coverage. A literature
review was done based on the previous studies on the topic. A qualitative research leads the
researchers to understand the views and expressions of the research participants and this helps
in developing an understanding of how the people interpret their experiences(Jane Sutton
2015). A qualitative research method using semi-structured interviews with a preplanned
interview guide was applied. Parents of children under five years were interviewed.
10 participants were selected from each of the three different states -Kerala, Karnataka, and
Tamil Nadu. A pilot study was conducted before the main study. After the interviews were
conducted, the data was transcribed, and analyzed. The data was compared with the theoretical
perspectives and the previous studies found in the literature review.
Levesque, Harris & Russels (2013) framework of access to health-care is the main theoretical
perspective used in this study. However, this framework was supplemented with other models
relevant in the study of health care utilization, like the Ajzen & Fishbein’s (1980) theory of
Reasoned Action (TRA), Hochbaum, Rosenstock, and Kegels the Health Belief
Model (HBM)(1952), and Rogers’ (2003) diffusion of innovation theory. The findings were
discussed with reference to these theoretical frameworks. The interview was done in a rural
area in three Indian states. Both higher-class people and lower class people were interviewed.
Description
Master i International Social Welfare and Health Policy