Low coverage of influenza vaccination among Chinese children aged 12-23 months: Prevalence and associated factors

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate prevalence and associated factors of influenza vaccination (IV) among children aged 12–23 months. Our cross-sectional survey interviewed 489 parents of children aged 12–23 months anonymously at twelve maternal and child health centers in Hong Kong. Results showed that only 11.5% of the children had ever received IV (64.3% being subsidized). Adjusted for the child’s age, significant factors of the children’s IV included parental knowledge about governmental policy/recommendation (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.64, 95%CI = 1.09,6.40), knowledge about annual IV requirement (AOR = 2.30, 95%CI = 1.21,4.38), perceived safety-related barrier (AOR≥0.14, 95%CI = 0.06,0.33), cue to action (AOR = 7.79, 95%CI = 3.45,17.58), and subjective norm (AOR = 4.59, 95%CI = 2.34,9.00). IV prevalence of children aged 12–23 months remained low despite a subsidization scheme. The higher IV prevalence of older children reported by other studies suggested that parents postponed action. Promotion campaigns should shift emphases from cost reduction and mass media approaches to dissemination of knowledge about IV policy and safety, enhancement of health professionals’ advice, and creation of supportive subjective norm.

Impact of funding influenza vaccination on coverage among Australian children: a national study using MedicineInsight, a large general practice database

“…We identified a similar vaccination coverage in boys and girls, and this finding is consistent with reports from the UK, 30 China 31 and Australia. 32 On the other hand, vaccination coverage between 2015 and 2017 was slightly higher among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children, and similar figures were reported in a study conducted in New South Wales.…”

Associated Factors of Behavioral Intention Regarding Childhood Influenza Vaccination Among Parents of Ever-Vaccinated and Never-Vaccinated 24- to 59-Month-Old Children in Hong Kong

“…The HBM items were also used in a recently published study investigating infant IV status. 29 A pilot study was conducted (n = 30), in which test-retest reliability was estimated by contacting the participants twice and 2 weeks apart (average κ of items = 0.67).…”

Problematic Smartphone Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Its Association with Pandemic-Related and Generalized Beliefs

“…Both generalized self-efficacy and behavior-specific self-efficacy have been found to be negatively correlated with health-compromising behaviors (e.g., smoking and poor dietary habits [ 18 ]) and adverse mental health conditions (e.g., collective trauma, anxiety, and depression [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]). Previous research has also shown the positive effects of behavior-specific self-efficacy on not only preventive behaviors like influenza vaccination [ 22 , 23 ] but also improved mental health in general [ 24 ]. In particular, the behavioral addiction field has identified behavior-specific self-efficacy as a protective factor for various types of addictive behaviors, such as problematic gambling [ 25 , 26 ] and problematic Internet use [ 27 ].…”