Department of Public Health, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
Migrant and Refugee Health Research Centre, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
BMC Public Health. 2023 Jul 13;23(1):1349. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16266-7.
To prevent disease outbreaks, refugee children must be age-appropriately immunised. This qualitative study gained an in-depth understanding of refugee mothers' vaccine decision-making and experiences accessing immunisation services for their children post-resettlement in Aotearoa New Zealand.
An interpretive description methodology involving focus groups with refugee mothers (N = 45) was conducted in Auckland, one of the resettlement locations. Mothers were asked about their perceptions of vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccines, their experiences of attending immunisation events, and their suggestions for improvements to immunisation services. Data were analysed following the phases of reflexive thematic analysis.
Four themes were constructed. Do I have a choice? Mothers displayed pro-vaccination sentiments and parental obligation to vaccinate their children to protect their health, which underpinned their compliance with the national vaccine schedule. Transnational vaccine perceptions and behaviours It was evident that comparing their health experiences in their origin countries reinforced their positive perceptions of and trust in vaccines, health providers and their recommendations, the health system and government in New Zealand. Information sharing with their transnational networks had the potential to influence vaccine perceptions and behaviours in home and host countries. Unanswered questions and concerns Mothers discussed how many of their questions and concerns about immunisations and post-vaccine management went unanswered. Relationships and experiences matter Mothers stressed the importance of who vaccinated their child and how it was administered, highlighting that health providers' demeanour and competence influence their immunisation experiences.
Health providers are encouraged to focus on creating a positive immunisation experience for refugee background families. Qualified interpreters and provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate information are required. Transnationalism at the individual level appears to influence vaccine perceptions and behaviours among refugee-background mothers. Future research focusing on caregivers with child(ren) who are not fully vaccinated would be beneficial.
为了预防疾病爆发，难民儿童必须进行适龄免疫接种。本定性研究深入了解了难民母亲在儿童重新安置到新西兰奥克兰后为其接种疫苗的决策和获得免疫服务的经历。
采用解释性描述方法，在奥克兰（重新安置地点之一）进行了焦点小组访谈，共有 45 名难民母亲参加。访谈内容涉及她们对疫苗可预防疾病和疫苗的看法、参加免疫接种活动的经历，以及对改善免疫服务的建议。数据按照反思性主题分析的阶段进行分析。
构建了四个主题。我有选择吗？母亲们表现出支持接种疫苗的态度和为孩子接种疫苗的父母责任，以保护他们的健康，这支撑了她们对国家疫苗接种计划的遵守。跨国疫苗观念和行为，比较她们在原籍国的健康经历，加强了她们对疫苗、卫生保健提供者及其建议、新西兰的卫生系统和政府的积极看法和信任。与跨国网络分享信息有可能影响原籍国和东道国的疫苗观念和行为。未得到解答的问题和疑虑，母亲们讨论了她们对免疫接种和疫苗接种后管理的许多问题和疑虑为何未得到解答。关系和经历很重要，母亲们强调了为孩子接种疫苗的人以及接种方式的重要性，强调卫生保健提供者的态度和能力会影响她们的免疫接种体验。
鼓励卫生保健提供者为难民背景家庭创造积极的免疫接种体验。需要提供合格的口译员和文化及语言适宜的信息。个人层面的跨国主义似乎影响了难民背景母亲对疫苗的看法和行为。未来的研究集中在那些对儿童（尚未完全接种疫苗）有照顾责任的看护者将是有益的。
