Vaccine Uptake and Perspectives Among Latina Immigrant Mothers in Rural Communities in a Midwestern State

Abstract

Purpose Examine the prevalence of and characteristics related to COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Design Quantitative and qualitative data collected at two-time points via phone interviews. Setting Rural Midwestern communities. Sample 109 Latina mothers with incomes < 185% FPL, at least one child < age 12 recruited from a Midwestern state based on two previous studies. Measures Mothers responded to the following variables through a survey: Vaccine uptake measured by responses to, Have you received a vaccination shot for COVID-19. Tested predictors of vaccine uptake included: income, gender, education, immigration status, confidence in vaccine, belief the pandemic is over). Mothers’ perspectives regarding the vaccine explored via responses to Why haven’t you received COVID-19 vaccine?. Analysis Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted. Demographic variables and attitudes toward the vaccine served as predictors of mothers’ vaccine uptake. Qualitative data were analyzed to shed light on mothers’ perspectives on receiving the vaccine. Results Mother’s confidence in the vaccine predicted vaccine uptake in 2021 (aOR=1.332, 95% CI: 1.07-1.65) and 2022 (aOR=1.48, 95%CI: 1.11-1.97). In 2021, income also predicted vaccine uptake (aOR=1; 95% CI: 1-1.002). Overarching themes: “vaccination is not necessary”,“mistrust of the vaccine”, and “vaccine as protector”. Conclusion Vaccinated mothers viewed the vaccine as a protection from being infected or gravely ill. For unvaccinated mothers, messages are needed that communicate the vaccine can protect them from virus transmission from household members who unknowingly are infected, as well as from different virus strains.