ABSTRACT

PARENTSʼ HESITANCY AGAINST THEIR CHILDRENʼS VACCINATION, IN THE PERCEPTION OF SOCIO-MEDICAL WORKERS

Using the method of qualitative research, the investigation aimed to describe the perception of socio-medical workers involved in programs for pregnant women and mothers with children between 0 and 5 years living in disadvantaged rural communities, with regard to the factors that lead to the phenomenon of hesitancy towards vaccination shown by parents. The data obtained from 12 interviews was analyzed based on the three determinants (confidence, convenience and complacency) that make up the explanatory model of the Sage Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy. Although different from one community to another and with distinct accents for certain types of vaccine, the parents’ level of hesitancy towards vaccination, from the perspective of these specialists, can be overcome. However, the rejection of optional vaccines and the reluctance towards new vaccines (antiHPV and antiCovid-19) remain serious impediments. Therefore, achieving a high rate of vaccination acceptance depends, to a large extent, on establishing trust relationships with the family physicians and field socio-medical teams which initiate and maintain direct interactions while covering the varied social, information and counseling needs of parents.

Keywords: child vaccination, vaccine hesitancy, rural community, socio-medical services, counselling.

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