Date
6-19-2024
Department
School of Health Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Chair
Lindsay Egli
Keywords
Vaccine hesitancy, childhood vaccines, health communication, vaccine literacy, strategies, interventions, Christian Nationalism, Anti-Vax
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Public Health
Recommended Citation
Jackson, Marcia S., "Examining the Cues to Action of Christian Parents and/or Guardians Who Are Hesitant to Vaccinate Pediatric Populations" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5756.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5756
Abstract
As a result of skepticism related to vaccine administration, many newborns and children are without their standardized and recommended vaccinations due to parent and/or guardian beliefs. It is the parent and/or guardian who holds the power to vaccinate their children. Vaccine administration is one of the most successful achievements of public health intervention in the 20th century. The purpose of this study is to use a descriptive case study analysis approach to assess parents' and/or guardians' concerns, attitudes, beliefs, and intentions towards immunizations for their children (from birth to 18 years of age). Understanding the "why" and "how" concerns raised by the vaccine-skeptical community is the primary objective. Professionals in community health, decision-makers, and several population stakeholders could all benefit from this knowledge. Understanding why people choose not to take preventative measures has benefited greatly over time by the application of theory to examine the nature of vaccination reluctance. For vaccine behavior modification to be successful, approaches should be created with consideration for the individual and their social characteristics, beliefs, norms, and surroundings. One of the most widely utilized conceptual frameworks for health behavior is the Health Belief Model (HBM). In this way, it is intended to minimize the gap between parents and/or guardians and medical professionals.
