Perceived barriers of migrants and refugees to vaccinate their children against Measles and polio: a study in Iran

• Published in: International journal for equity in health Vol. 22; no. 1; p. 253
• Main Authors: Nasiri, Amir, Farshidi, Hossein, Rezaei, Farshid, Dehdari, Tahereh, Kazemi, Afrouzeh, Rezapour, Hamid, Goshtaei, Massomeh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 06.12.2023; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Analysis; Beliefs, opinions and attitudes; Child; Children; Dosage and administration; Economics; Education; Factor analysis; Family; Health aspects; Health services; Humans; Iran; Measles; Measles - prevention & control; Measles and polio vaccination; Measles-mumps-rubella vaccine; Migrant and refugee people; Migrants; Migration; Missing data; Parents; Parents & parenting; Participation; Perceived barriers; Poliomyelitis; Poliomyelitis - prevention & control; Poliomyelitis vaccine; Public health; Public opinion; Questionnaires; Refugee children; Refugees; Transients and Migrants; Vaccination; Vaccines; Validity; Variables; Iran; Afghanistan; Pakistan; Measles and polio vaccination; Perceived barriers; Iran; Migrant and refugee people
• ISSN: 1475-9276; 1475-9276
• DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-02075-2

This study examined the perceived barriers of migrants and refugees to vaccinating their children against measles and polio in Iran. First, an instrument was developed and validated through several steps. Next, 1,067 parents who had not vaccinated their children against polio and measles or had delayed receiving any dose of these two vaccines until the age of 15 were selected from 16 provinces and completed the instrument. Finally, the data were analyzed. The results of the explanatory factor analysis showed that the perceived barriers affecting vaccination against polio and measles vaccines were categorized into five factors: low knowledge, negative attitude, communication challenges, lack of participation in vaccination programs, and problems related to migration and refugees. Additionally, the results indicated a significant difference in the mean score of perceived barriers based on participants' level of education, economic status, and nationality. The identified barriers may provide a perspective for developing effective efforts in this area. Interventions should focus on parents with low education and poor economic status.