Date of Award
Spring 5-2-2015
Document Type
Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Nursing
Advisor
Patricia Keane, Ph.D., RN
First Committee Member
Jackie Haverkamp, DNP, RN, CNP, NHA
Second Committee Member
Julie Miller, RN, MSN
Keywords
Amish, Immunizations, Measles, Vaccinations, Knox County, Ohio
Subject Categories
Family Practice Nursing | Pediatric Nursing | Public Health and Community Nursing
Abstract
Abstract
Children living in Amish communities in Ohio are under-immunized and under-immunized communities are reservoirs for preventable childhood diseases. A recent measles outbreak in central Ohio involved 9 counties and 377 cases of this vaccine-preventable disease. There were 5 hospitalizations related to this measles outbreak in Knox County. Vaccine-preventable illnesses contribute to pediatric morbidity and mortality and are cost prohibitive to individuals and society.
The purpose of this study was to identify real and perceived barriers to immunizations among Amish parents in Knox County, Ohio. The information obtained in this study will be disseminated to the Knox County Health Department to be utilized to improve vaccination rates among children in these communities. A qualitative research design was used for this study. Criteria for subject participation included parents of Amish children ages 0-18 who live in Knox County, Ohio. Interviews with parents of Amish children explored research questions regarding the current vaccination status of their children, their perceptions of immunization safety, risks, side effects, perceived severity of vaccine-preventable illness, and perceived and real barriers to vaccinations. NVivo software was utilized to analyze the content of the interviews. Qualitative analysis revealed common themes among the interview responses.
The findings of this study indicate that concerns about side effects are the most significant barrier to vaccinations among Amish parents in Knox County, Ohio. Identifying strategies to allay concerns related to side effects and other barriers to vaccinations among Amish families will be valuable in improving vaccination compliance among these communities, leading to decreased outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Recommended Citation
Segraves, Laura J., "Improving Vaccination Compliance among Amish Children in Knox County, Ohio" (2015). Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects. 14.
https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/stu_doc/14
Included in
Family Practice Nursing Commons, Pediatric Nursing Commons, Public Health and Community Nursing Commons