Immunization uptake and doctors' perceptions of uptake in a minority group: Implications for interventions

Abstract

Uptake of childhood immunizations was studied among orthodox Jews and others in North London, before and after the introduction of revised immunization schedules. Orthodox-Jewish uptake was lower than that of others, especially for immunizations that were administered later, were optional and seen as risky. Uptakes were compared with doctors' impressions of uptakes. Doctors' impressions of uptake were not always accurate: there was an over-optimistic impression of raised orthodox-Jewish uptake under the revised schedules. Some possible reasons for low orthodox-Jewish uptake were examined, including logistic difficulties of bringing babies for immunization when family size is large and the religious calendar is demanding, and mothers' perceptions of the riskiness of immunization. It was suggested that it may be important to examine health-related behaviour and beliefs in minority groups, as these may differ both from behaviour and beliefs in the majority, and from doctors' impressions of behaviour and beliefs. This in turn has implications for the design of interventions affecting behaviour and beliefs.