An exploration of factors and phenomena influencing parent and/or caregiver compliance with the immunisation schedule in the Witzenberg sub-district of the Western Cape

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Parents and/or caregivers all over the world are expected to comply with existingchildhood immunisation programmes in order to prevent outbreaks of preventablechildhood diseases. The most important justification for this study was the 2010 measlesoutbreak in the Western Cape province of South Africa. This outbreak correlated with thestudy conclusions of Corrigall, Coetzee and Cameron (2008:41) as they found theimmunisation coverage in the Western Cape to be insufficient to prevent outbreaks ofpreventable childhood diseases.From the literature, it seemed that attitudes and factors that influence parent and/orcaregiver compliance with the routine childhood immunisation schedule in the Witzenbergsub-district of the Western Cape persist. In doing this study, the researcher's purpose wasto discover what those factors were. The aim was to determine, understand and describethe attitudes and factors influencing parent and/or caregiver compliance with the routinechildhood immunisation schedule, and the nature thereof. The set objectives were to gainknowledge of and insight into the factors influencing participants' adherence with routinechildhood immunisation; and participants' feelings, attitudes, and experiences surroundingimmunisation within the context of their health care environment.A quantitative research approach, with a smaller qualitative component, was selected forthis study which had an exploratory descriptive design. The population targeted for datacollection included parents and/or caregivers of children aged 0 to 60 months in theWitzenberg sub-district (N=8374), as well as in community health centres (CHCs) thatprovided immunisation and/or other primary health care services in the mentioned subdistrict(N=16). The non-probability convenience sampling of parents and/or caregiversconsisted of 376 participants (n=376), while 8 CHCs (n=8) were selected throughsystematic sampling.The measuring instrument used as the data collection technique for this study was a selfadministeredquestionnaire. A pilot study was conducted to pre-test the questionnaire, andits reliability and validity were further ensured by submitting it for review to researchexperts in methodology and nursing. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methodswas used to analyse the study data. MS Excel was used to capture the quantitative dataafter which it was analysed using descriptive statistics by means of STATISTICA version 9-software. Tesch's approach to qualitative data analysis was used as a guideline with thepurpose of identifying and categorising the essential qualitative data and grouping ittogether in one descriptive framework.The main findings were that parents and/or caregivers involved in this study were positiveabout immunisation and their experiences within the health service environment. They alsofelt that health workers were playing an important role in their decision-making process.However, their knowledge regarding the purpose of and contra-indications forimmunisation were insufficient, and most parents reported that their children experiencedside effects after immunisation.Key recommendations on conclusion of the study include clear, accurate and specificinformation to parents about the purpose of immunisation and its contra-indications andside effects. Vaccinators and managers should be informed about the persistent problemwith mild vaccination side effects and refresher courses should be provided with regard toinfection control, administration techniques and the reporting of adverse effects.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University