"Our kids are our future": Barriers and facilitators to vaccine uptake and timeliness among Aboriginal children younger than five years in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia.
<h4>Introduction</h4>Rates of several vaccine preventable diseases, and associated hospitalisation, are higher among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children than non-Indigenous children. Western Australia has among the lowest childhood vaccine coverage in Australia, particularl...
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2025-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317946 |
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| author | Carla Puca Paige Wood-Kenney Naomi Nelson Jordan Hansen Judy Mathews Erin van der Helder Justin Kickett Melanie Robinson Katie Attwell Anastasia Phillips Valerie Swift Christopher C Blyth Samantha J Carlson |
| author_facet | Carla Puca Paige Wood-Kenney Naomi Nelson Jordan Hansen Judy Mathews Erin van der Helder Justin Kickett Melanie Robinson Katie Attwell Anastasia Phillips Valerie Swift Christopher C Blyth Samantha J Carlson |
| author_sort | Carla Puca |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Introduction</h4>Rates of several vaccine preventable diseases, and associated hospitalisation, are higher among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children than non-Indigenous children. Western Australia has among the lowest childhood vaccine coverage in Australia, particularly among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children. Delayed vaccination is also more common in this population. This project aimed to understand the barriers and facilitators to vaccine uptake and timeliness among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children aged under five years in Boorloo (Perth).<h4>Methods</h4>The Tailoring Immunisation Programs method was used to determine the barriers and facilitators to vaccination. Between March - November 2023, in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 parents/carers of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in Boorloo who were currently or previously overdue for one or more childhood vaccines. Qualitative data were analysed in NVivo 14 using deductive and inductive coding following the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behaviour model.<h4>Results</h4>The majority of participants believed vaccines are safe, effective and supported vaccination as a means to strengthen the next generation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children. Barriers to on-time vaccination related to access and ineffective reminder systems. Participants expressed limited knowledge about additional vaccines recommended for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children under Australia's National Immunisation Program.<h4>Conclusion</h4>An increase in vaccine coverage and timeliness will optimise protection and decrease the burden of disease in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in Boorloo. This can be supported by policy interventions to better cater for the needs of families, including addressing transport challenges, being mindful of the wider network of kin and care relationships, ensuring the funding of Aboriginal health services, and co-designing culturally appropriate resources. The federal government should use the Centrelink system to notify all eligible families of pending vaccines due. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ad5b4464453645d18c005c42bb394769 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-ad5b4464453645d18c005c42bb3947692025-08-20T02:26:10ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01205e031794610.1371/journal.pone.0317946"Our kids are our future": Barriers and facilitators to vaccine uptake and timeliness among Aboriginal children younger than five years in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia.Carla PucaPaige Wood-KenneyNaomi NelsonJordan HansenJudy MathewsErin van der HelderJustin KickettMelanie RobinsonKatie AttwellAnastasia PhillipsValerie SwiftChristopher C BlythSamantha J Carlson<h4>Introduction</h4>Rates of several vaccine preventable diseases, and associated hospitalisation, are higher among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children than non-Indigenous children. Western Australia has among the lowest childhood vaccine coverage in Australia, particularly among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children. Delayed vaccination is also more common in this population. This project aimed to understand the barriers and facilitators to vaccine uptake and timeliness among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children aged under five years in Boorloo (Perth).<h4>Methods</h4>The Tailoring Immunisation Programs method was used to determine the barriers and facilitators to vaccination. Between March - November 2023, in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 parents/carers of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in Boorloo who were currently or previously overdue for one or more childhood vaccines. Qualitative data were analysed in NVivo 14 using deductive and inductive coding following the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behaviour model.<h4>Results</h4>The majority of participants believed vaccines are safe, effective and supported vaccination as a means to strengthen the next generation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children. Barriers to on-time vaccination related to access and ineffective reminder systems. Participants expressed limited knowledge about additional vaccines recommended for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children under Australia's National Immunisation Program.<h4>Conclusion</h4>An increase in vaccine coverage and timeliness will optimise protection and decrease the burden of disease in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in Boorloo. This can be supported by policy interventions to better cater for the needs of families, including addressing transport challenges, being mindful of the wider network of kin and care relationships, ensuring the funding of Aboriginal health services, and co-designing culturally appropriate resources. The federal government should use the Centrelink system to notify all eligible families of pending vaccines due.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317946 |
| spellingShingle | Carla Puca Paige Wood-Kenney Naomi Nelson Jordan Hansen Judy Mathews Erin van der Helder Justin Kickett Melanie Robinson Katie Attwell Anastasia Phillips Valerie Swift Christopher C Blyth Samantha J Carlson "Our kids are our future": Barriers and facilitators to vaccine uptake and timeliness among Aboriginal children younger than five years in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia. PLoS ONE |
| title | "Our kids are our future": Barriers and facilitators to vaccine uptake and timeliness among Aboriginal children younger than five years in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia. |
| title_full | "Our kids are our future": Barriers and facilitators to vaccine uptake and timeliness among Aboriginal children younger than five years in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia. |
| title_fullStr | "Our kids are our future": Barriers and facilitators to vaccine uptake and timeliness among Aboriginal children younger than five years in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia. |
| title_full_unstemmed | "Our kids are our future": Barriers and facilitators to vaccine uptake and timeliness among Aboriginal children younger than five years in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia. |
| title_short | "Our kids are our future": Barriers and facilitators to vaccine uptake and timeliness among Aboriginal children younger than five years in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia. |
| title_sort | our kids are our future barriers and facilitators to vaccine uptake and timeliness among aboriginal children younger than five years in boorloo perth western australia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317946 |
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