Examining the Variation in Child Vaccination Status by Maternal Vaccination and Birthing Place

Abstract

Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses have occurred in recent years in pockets of children who are not up-to-date on their vaccinations, particularly among those whose parents have chosen to delay or refuse vaccinations for their children. It is essential to identify the at-risk children and the characteristics of parents who choose to delay or refuse vaccinations for their children. Numerous studies have focused on the beliefs and attitudes of parents regarding childhood vaccination, but few have focused on the association of other preventive health behaviors with childhood vaccination. Clustering of these behaviors is an important question in social epidemiology and could help in understanding underlying belief systems that influence health behaviors. Mothers who refuse influenza vaccinations during pregnancy report similar attitudes and beliefs to those who refuse vaccinations for their children, yet few studies have investigated relationships between child vaccination and other health behaviors. Additionally, mothers who choose to deliver their babies in out-of-hospital settings, a small, but growing, population in Minnesota, also report similar attitudes and beliefs, though this research is in its infancy. The objective of this study was to examine the variation in infant vaccination by maternal vaccination in pregnancy and maternal attitudes and beliefs using data from the Minnesota Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System and the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection. An exploratory study of the relationship between out-of-hospital birth and vaccination is also included. If relationships exist between these factors, there may be an opportunity for targeted vaccination interventions in subgroups of pregnant women or new mothers.