Why is influenza vaccine uptake so low among Aboriginal adults?
Abstract Objectives: Determine major barriers to, and facilitators of, influenza vaccination of Aboriginal adults, in order to improve coverage from the current level of 30%. Methods: i) A focus group with 13 Aboriginal Immunisation Healthcare Workers; and ii) a cross‐sectional survey of Aboriginal...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.13004 |
| _version_ | 1797765675081531392 |
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| author | Robert Menzies Jalil Aqel Ikram Abdi Telphia Joseph Holly Seale Sally Nathan |
| author_facet | Robert Menzies Jalil Aqel Ikram Abdi Telphia Joseph Holly Seale Sally Nathan |
| author_sort | Robert Menzies |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objectives: Determine major barriers to, and facilitators of, influenza vaccination of Aboriginal adults, in order to improve coverage from the current level of 30%. Methods: i) A focus group with 13 Aboriginal Immunisation Healthcare Workers; and ii) a cross‐sectional survey of Aboriginal people aged ≥18 years at the 2017 New South Wales Koori Knockout (29 September–2 October). Results: The focus group nominated poor identification of Aboriginality in general practice. Of 273 survey respondents, a substantial minority (30%) were unaware of their eligibility for free influenza vaccination. More than half (52%) believed the vaccine could cause influenza, 40% reported there were better ways than vaccination for avoiding infection and 30% said they would not have the vaccine if it was offered to them. Regarding health service access, few reported experiencing difficulty (17%), feeling uncomfortable (15%) or being discriminated against (8%), but 53% reported not receiving a reminder from a health professional. Conclusions: Misconceptions about influenza disease and vaccine among Aboriginal people and inadequate identification of Aboriginality in general practice appear to be the greatest barriers to vaccination, rather than health service access in general. Implications for public health: More active communication to and targeting of Aboriginal adults is required; this is even more urgent following the arrival of COVID‐19. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:14:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-497a3f9e534243acb2199a96174170b9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1326-0200 1753-6405 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:14:30Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-497a3f9e534243acb2199a96174170b92023-08-02T01:27:32ZengElsevierAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health1326-02001753-64052020-08-0144427928310.1111/1753-6405.13004Why is influenza vaccine uptake so low among Aboriginal adults?Robert Menzies0Jalil Aqel1Ikram Abdi2Telphia Joseph3Holly Seale4Sally Nathan5School of Public Health and Community Medicine University of NSW New South WalesSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine University of NSW New South WalesSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine University of NSW New South WalesSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine University of NSW New South WalesSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine University of NSW New South WalesSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine University of NSW New South WalesAbstract Objectives: Determine major barriers to, and facilitators of, influenza vaccination of Aboriginal adults, in order to improve coverage from the current level of 30%. Methods: i) A focus group with 13 Aboriginal Immunisation Healthcare Workers; and ii) a cross‐sectional survey of Aboriginal people aged ≥18 years at the 2017 New South Wales Koori Knockout (29 September–2 October). Results: The focus group nominated poor identification of Aboriginality in general practice. Of 273 survey respondents, a substantial minority (30%) were unaware of their eligibility for free influenza vaccination. More than half (52%) believed the vaccine could cause influenza, 40% reported there were better ways than vaccination for avoiding infection and 30% said they would not have the vaccine if it was offered to them. Regarding health service access, few reported experiencing difficulty (17%), feeling uncomfortable (15%) or being discriminated against (8%), but 53% reported not receiving a reminder from a health professional. Conclusions: Misconceptions about influenza disease and vaccine among Aboriginal people and inadequate identification of Aboriginality in general practice appear to be the greatest barriers to vaccination, rather than health service access in general. Implications for public health: More active communication to and targeting of Aboriginal adults is required; this is even more urgent following the arrival of COVID‐19.https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.13004Oceanic Ancestry Groupadultimmunisation programshealth knowledgeattitudespractice |
| spellingShingle | Robert Menzies Jalil Aqel Ikram Abdi Telphia Joseph Holly Seale Sally Nathan Why is influenza vaccine uptake so low among Aboriginal adults? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Oceanic Ancestry Group adult immunisation programs health knowledge attitudes practice |
| title | Why is influenza vaccine uptake so low among Aboriginal adults? |
| title_full | Why is influenza vaccine uptake so low among Aboriginal adults? |
| title_fullStr | Why is influenza vaccine uptake so low among Aboriginal adults? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why is influenza vaccine uptake so low among Aboriginal adults? |
| title_short | Why is influenza vaccine uptake so low among Aboriginal adults? |
| title_sort | why is influenza vaccine uptake so low among aboriginal adults |
| topic | Oceanic Ancestry Group adult immunisation programs health knowledge attitudes practice |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.13004 |
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