JRSM > Volume 101, Number 5 > Pp. 244-251

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Perceptions of childhood immunization in a minority community: qualitative study

Lesley Henderson¹ Christopher Millett²   Nicki Thorogood³

¹ Lecturer in Sociology and Communications, School of Social Sciences, Brunel University Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK
² Consultant in Public Health, Department of Primary Care and Social Medicine, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine London W6 8RP, UK
³ Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Public Health and Policy Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Keppel Street, London W1, UK

Correspondence: Dr Lesley Henderson lesley.henderson{at}brunel.ac.uk

Objective To assess reasons for low uptake of immunization amongst orthodox Jewish families.

Design Qualitative interviews with 25 orthodox Jewish mothers and 10 local health care workers.

Setting The orthodox Jewish community in North East London.

Main outcome measures Identification of views on immunization in the orthodox Jewish community.

Results In a community assumed to be relatively insulated from direct media influence, word of mouth is nevertheless a potent source of rumours about vaccination dangers. The origins of these may lie in media scares that contribute to anxieties about MMR. At the same time, close community cohesion leads to a sense of relative safety in relation to tuberculosis, with consequent low rates of BCG uptake. Thus low uptake of different immunizations arises from enhanced feelings of both safety and danger. Low uptake was not found to be due to the practical difficulties associated with large families, or to perceived insensitive cultural practices of health care providers.

Conclusions The views and practices of members of this community are not homogeneous and may change over time. It is important that assumptions concerning the role of religious beliefs do not act as an obstacle for providing clear messages concerning immunization, and community norms may be challenged by explicitly using its social networks to communicate more positive messages about immunization. The study provides a useful example of how social networks may reinforce or challenge misinformation about health and risk and the complex nature of decision making about children's health.

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