Graduation Year

2013

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Granting Department

Nursing

Major Professor

Mary Webb, PhD, RN

Co-Major Professor

Mary E. Evans, PhD, RN, FAAN

Committee Member

Susan C. McMillan, PhD, ARNP, FAAN

Committee Member

Kevin E. Kip, PhD, FAHA

Committee Member

Judi Vitucci, RN, ARNP, PhD

Keywords

African-American Children, Immunizations, Vaccinations

Abstract

Rates and coverage levels of immunizations of African-American children are reduced compared to other races. Few studies have identified factors that influence vaccination decisions of African-American mothers. This study assessed the mothers' vaccination decisions using a self-administered questionnaire and a screening instrument for determining health literacy. This instrument is called Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM). The sample was 92 African American mothers, recruited from a large metropolitan church in Jacksonville, Florida, who had at least one child under the age of seven. A cross-sectional research design was used to administer survey instruments to identify and interpret parental barriers and decision-making regarding childhood vaccination. The results of this study showed that the there was a decrease in scores across the levels of education which indicated that education had a significant impact on the parental perception for the vaccination of their children. Interventions can now be tailored to improve the childhood immunization rates and provide a foundation for developing effective childhood vaccination educational materials for this population.

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