Parents' confidence in recommended childhood vaccinations: Extending the assessment, expanding the context

Figures & data

Table 1. Survey respondents' demographic characteristics (N = 1000).

Variable	%
Gender
Male	46.0
Female	54.0
Age
18–24	15.9
25–30	25.4
31–35	23.8
36–40	14.2
41 and older	20.5
Race
White/ Caucasian	54.5
Hispanic	23.6
Black or African American	12.9
Asian	4.0
Other	5.1
Marital status
Married or Partnered	76.4
Divorced or Separated	7.8
Single	15.8
Highest education
Advanced degree	10.0
Four-year degree	17.7
Two-year degree	10.0
Some college or technical school	21.7
High school or GED	28.9
Less than high school	11.7
Occupational status
Employed full-time	46.3
Employed part-time	10.7
Unemployed	10.6
Stay-at-home parent	23.1
Student	3.4
Other	6.0
Annual income
Less than $29,999	35.8
$30,000-$59,9999	26.3
$60,000-$99,999	19.5
More than $100,000	10.0
Prefer not to say	7.6
Number of children make healthcare decisions for
1	37.7
2	34.7
3	18.5
4 or more	9.0

Table 2. Children's vaccine, antibiotic, over-the-counter medicine and vitamin behaviors based on race, education and income levels.

		Race (%)			Education (%)				Income (%)
Action	Overall (%)	White	Black	Hispanic	High school or less	Some college	College degree	Post-grad. Degree	Less than $30K	$30K to $69,999	Greater than $70K
N	1000	545	129	236	406	217	277	100	358	328	314
Vaccine Behaviors
Has your youngest child received all, some or none of the recommended vaccines to date?
None	4.6	4.1^a	5.1^a	6.8^a	5.9^a	6.2^a	2.2^a	2.0^a	3.5^a	6.1^a	4.0^a
Some	20.6	16.6^a	26.3^a,b	27.5^b	22.6^a	24.2^a	19.1^a,b	9.2^b	28.4^a	16.2^b	16.3^b
All	74.8	79.3^a	68.6^a,b	65.8^b	71.5^a	69.7^a	78.7^a,b	88.8^b	68.0^a	77.7^b	79.7^b
Have you ever delayed having your child or children get a recommended vaccine for reasons other than illness or allergy? By delayed we mean put off, but ultimately ended up having it done.
No	69.5	73.0^a	75.6^a,b	62.9^b	67.7^a	71.1^a	69.5^a	72.9^a	63.7^a	70.5^a,b	74.7^b
Unsure	7.2	3.3^a	11.8^b	13.1^b	9.9^a	7.6^a,b	5.3^a,b	1.0^b	9.1^a	6.4^a	6.0^a
Yes	23.3	23.8^a	12.6^b	23.9^a,b	22.5^a	21.3^a	25.2^a	26.0^a	27.1^a	23.1^a	19.3^a
Have you ever decided not to have your child or children get a recommended vaccine for reasons other than illness or allergy?
No	74.2	81.0^a	67.8^b	60.6^b	70.0^a	72.2^a,b	79.6^b	79.2^a,b	71.4^a	74.4^a	77.2^a
Unsure	6.1	1.0^a	13.9^b	14.8^b	10.3^a	5.3^a,b	2.2^b	3.1^a,b	6.8^a	7.0^a	4.0^a
Yes	19.7	18.0^a	18.3^a	24.5^a	19.7^a	22.5^a	18.2^a	17.7^a	21.7^a	18.5^a	18.8^a
Do you plan or intend to have your child or children get all of the remaining recommended vaccines?
No	10.5	10.2^a	6.8^a	14.5^a	10.7^a	9.5^a	12.3^a	7.1^a	10.7^a	10.5^a	10.0^a
Unsure	12.8	8.8^a	26.5^b	16.4^a	15.1^a,b	17.1^b	8.9^a	6.1^a,b	15.0^a	12.1^a	11.0^a
Yes	76.7	81.0^a	66.7^b	69.1^b	74.2^a	73.3^a	78.8^a	86.7^a	74.2^a	77.4^a	79.0^a
Antibiotics Behaviors
Has your youngest child been given an antibiotic to treat an illness?
No	34.7	38.6^a	31.7^a,b	23.6^b	32.0^a	38.2^a	35.9^a	34.7^a	28.4^a	41.2^b	35.0^a,b
Unsure	5.5	3.3^a	7.5^a,b	10.0^b	7.3^a	4.7^a,b	5.0^a,b	0.0^b	5.1^a	5.1^a	5.8^a
Yes	59.8	58.1^a	60.8^a	66.4^a	60.7^a	57.1^a	59.2^a	65.3^a	66.5^a	53.7^b	59.2^a,b
Have you ever delayed having your child or children get a recommended antibiotic for reasons other than allergy?
No	81.1	86.0^a	77.4^a,b	72.0^b	78.1^a	78.8^a	82.5^a,b	93.5^b	78.2^a	81.7^a	83.9^a
Unsure	7.4	3.9^a	13.9^b	10.7^b	11.6^a	5.7^a,b	4.5^b	2.2^b	7.9^a	7.6^a	6.6^a
Yes	11.5	10.1^a	8.7^a,b	17.3^b	10.2^a,b	15.5^b	13.0^a,b	4.3^a	13.9^a	10.7^a	9.5^a
Have you ever decided not to have your child or children get a recommended antibiotic for reasons other than allergy?
No	82.0	87.6^a	85.3^a	65.9^b	76.7^a	81.8^a,b	85.5^b	92.5^b	79.0^a	81.6^a	85.8^a
Unsure	5.5	3.5^a	4.3^a,b	11.1^b	8.2^a	6.6^a,b	2.0^b	1.1^a,b	5.6^a	5.8^a	5.1^a
Yes	12.5	8.9^a	10.3^a	23.1^b	15.1^a	11.6^a	12.4^a	6.5^a	15.4^a	12.6^a	9.1^a
If your child will was ill, and your physician recommended an antibiotic, would you have your child take the antibiotic?
No	12.1	6.1^a	27.4^b	17.5^b	14.0^a	9.3^a	11.6^a	12.6^a	18.0^a	9.4^b	8.5^b
Unsure	13.4	12.3^a	11.1^a	16.6^a	14.3^a	17.2^a	10.5^a	8.4^a	8.7^a	17.4^b	14.2^a,b
Yes	74.5	81.6^a	61.5^b	65.9^b	71.7^a	73.5^a	77.9^a	78.9^a	73.3^a	73.2^a	77.3^a
Over-the-counter medicines Behaviors
Has your youngest child been given an over-the-counter medicine or drug to treat an illness?
No	19.1	18.4^a	17.4^a	20.7^a	18.6^a	21.2^a	19.3^a	15.1^a	21.4^a	16.5^a	19.2^a
Unsure	5.2	2.1^a	6.6^a,b	12.2^b	10.1^a	2.8^b	2.2^b	0.0^b	8.0^a	4.4^a,b	3.0^b
Yes	75.8	79.5^a	76.0^a,b	67.1^b	71.4^a	75.9^a,b	78.4^a,b	84.9^b	70.6^a	79.1^b	77.8^a,b
Have you ever delayed having your child or children get a recommended over-the-counter medicine for reasons other than allergy?
No	76.5	81.0^a	80.2^a	62.8^b	72.8^a	74.3^a,b	79.8^a,b	86.2^b	74.4^a	74.6^a	80.5^a
Unsure	7.6	4.0^a	6.9^a	17.5^b	13.5^a	5.3^b	2.7^b	3.2^b	9.1^a	7.9^a	5.8^a
Yes	15.9	15.1^a	12.9^a	19.7^a	13.7^a	20.4^a	17.4^a	10.6^a	16.5^a	17.5^a	13.7^a
Have you ever decided not to have your child or children get a recommended over-the-counter medicine for reasons other than allergy?
No	76.0	80.9^a	71.6^a,b	66.5^b	74.7^a	71.6^a	79.9^a	81.5^a	73.7^a	74.9^a	80.5^a
Unsure	6.7	3.2^a	10.3^b	14.0^b	11.1^a	4.8^a,b	2.7^b	5.4^a,b	6.7^a	7.0^a	6.2^a
Yes	17.3	16.0^a	18.1^a	19.5^a	14.2^a	23.6^b	17.4^a,b	13.0^a,b	19.6^a	18.1^a	13.4^a
If your child was ill and your child's doctor recommended an over-the-counter medicine, would you have your child take the medicine?
No	16.1	10.4^a	23.5^b	20.1^b	18.5^a	10.9^a	16.1^a	17.5^a	18.8^a	14.2^a	14.8^a
Unsure	11.4	10.6^a	9.2^a	16.4^a	10.5^a	15.6^a	12.4^a	5.2^a	7.6^a	15.5^b	11.8^a,b
Yes	72.4	79.0^a	67.2^b	63.6^b	71.0^a	73.5^a	71.5^a	77.3^a	73.6^a	70.3^a	73.4^a
Children's vitamins Behaviors
Has your youngest child been given a children's vitamin?
No	33.5	36.3^a	33.1^a	29.1^a	31.1^a	39.2^a	34.3^a	28.1^a	32.2^a	36.1^a	32.2^a
Unsure	3.7	1.9^a	5.0^a,b	6.4^b	5.1^a	4.2^a	1.9^a	1.0^a	5.1^a	3.8^a	2.3^a
Yes	62.8	61.8^a	62.0^a	64.5^a	63.8^a	56.6^a	63.8^a	70.8^a	62.7^a	60.1^a	65.4^a
Have you ever hesitated having your child or children take a vitamin for reasons other than allergy?
No	78.8	84.0^a	76.5^a,b	67.0^b	73.3^a	78.7^a,b	83.5^b	86.0^a,b	70.4^a	80.0^b	87.6^c
Unsure	6.8	2.9^a	5.2^a	16.3^b	12.0^a	5.1^b	1.6^b	4.3^a,b	10.2^a	5.6^a,b	4.0^b
Yes	14.4	13.1^a	18.3^a	16.7^a	14.8^a	16.2^a	15.0^a	9.7^a	19.4^a	14.4^a,b	8.4^b
Have you ever decided not to have your child or children take a vitamin for reasons other than allergy?
No	78.3	83.8^a	72.0b,c	66.7c	75.6^a	71.4^a	85.0^b	83.5^a,b	71.8^a	79.5^a,b	84.6^b
Unsure	6.4	2.0^a	12.7^b	13.4^b	10.8^a	5.0^a,b	2.4^b	4.1^a,b	7.4^a	7.3^a	4.3^a
Yes	15.3	14.2^a	15.3^a	19.9^a	13.6^a	23.6^b	12.6^a	12.4^a,b	20.9^a	13.2^b	11.1^b
Do you plan or intend to have your child take recommended vitamins in the future?
No	18.9	18.8^a	21.7^a	19.5^a	21.5^a	10.7^b	25.8^a	7.2^b	21.2^a	21.0^a	14.0^a
Unsure	17.1	17.2^a	14.8^a	19.1^a	15.5^a	22.3^a	15.5^a	17.5^a	16.4^a	17.8^a	17.4^a
Yes	64.1	64.0^a	63.5^a	61.4^a	62.9^a,b	67.0^a,b	58.7^b	75.3^a	62.4^a	61.2^a	68.6^a

Notes: (1) Comparisons are made across columns by row and grouping (e.g., all possible comparisons are made between 4.1, 5.1, and 6.8 in our first row of results comparing vaccine behaviors by race).

(2) Differences in superscripts represent differences that are significant at a p-value of .05. For example, there are no significant differences between 4.1^a, 5.1^a, and 6.8^a in our first row of results comparing vaccine behaviors by race, as illustrated by the superscript ‘a’ common to all values. However, there is a significant difference between 16.6^a and 27.5^b in the second row of results, as illustrated by the difference in superscripts. Specifically, 16.6% of White respondents reported that their child had received “some” of the recommended vaccines to date, a percentage that was significantly lower than the 27.5% of Hispanic respondents who reported their child had received “some” of the recommended vaccines to date. The value for black respondents (26.3^a,b) did not differ significantly from either 16.6^a or 27.5^b, as illustrated by the superscripts ‘a’ and ‘b’ for that value.

Table 3. Confidence in vaccines, antibiotics, over-the-counter medicines and vitamins based on race, education and income levels.

		Race				Education				Income
Confidence Items	Mean	White	Black	Hispanic	p-value	High school or less	Some college	College degree	Post-grad. degree	p-value	Less than $30K	$30K to $69,999	Greater than $70K	p-value
N	1000	545	129	236		406	217	277	100		358	328	314
How confident are you in each of the following statements:
Vaccine Confidence – Schedule
1. The recommended childhood vaccination schedule is safe.	7.1	7.0	7.7	6.9	.026	6.9	6.8	7.1	8.3	.000	6.8	7.0	7.4	.032
2. The overall recommended childhood vaccination schedule will protect my child from all the diseases and illnesses.	7.0	6.9	7.6	6.9	.019	6.8	6.6	7.2	8.2	.000	6.8	7.1	7.3	.032
3. My child's overall health will benefit from getting all the recommended vaccines.	7.2	7.3	7.5	7.0	.142	7.0	7.0	7.34	8.4	.000	6.9	7.3	7.6	.008
Vaccine Confidence – Individual Vaccines
1. My child won't have a bad or serious adverse reaction to any of the recommended vaccines.	6.6	6.5	7.2	6.5	.053	6.4	6.6	6.6	7.6	.001	6.4	6.6	6.9	.048
2. Each of the recommended vaccines is effective in protecting my child from disease and illness.	7.1	7.1	7.4	6.9	.343	6.9	6.9	7.2	8.1	.000	6.9	7.1	7.4	.044
3. My child's overall health benefits from each one of the vaccines in the recommended childhood vaccination schedule.	7.0	7.0	7.3	6.9	.321	6.8	6.8	7.2	8.1	.000	6.7	7.0	7.4	.011
Antibiotics Confidence
1. My child won't have a bad or serious adverse reaction to a recommended children's antibiotic.	6.6	6.6	7.2	6.4	.004	6.4	6.2	6.9	7.7	.000	6.3	6.7	7.0	.000
2. A recommended children's antibiotic will successfully treat the illness or disease.	7.1	7.1	7.6	6.8	.004	6.9	7.0	7.2	7.9	.000	6.8	7.1	7.4	.010
3. My child's overall health will benefit from taking a recommended children's antibiotic.	6.8	6.8	7.4	6.7	.017	6.7	6.6	6.9	7.6	.002	6.7	6.8	7.0	.231
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines Confidence
1. My child won't have a bad or serious adverse reaction to an over-the-counter medicine or drug for children.	6.8	6.7	7.1	6.9	.185	6.5	6.6	7.1	7.6	.000	6.4	7.0	7.2	.000
2. Over-the-counter medicines and drugs for children will successfully treat the illness or disease.	6.3	6.1	6.7	6.6	.002	6.3	6.1	6.5	6.8	.089	6.0	6.5	6.5	.007
3. My child's overall health will benefit from taking over-the-counter medicines or drugs for children.	6.4	6.1	7.0	6.5	.001	6.1	6.1	6.7	6.8	.002	6.0	6.5	6.7	.001
Children's vitamins Confidence
1. My child won't have a bad or serious reaction to a children's vitamin.	7.3	7.4	7.3	7.1	.189	6.9	7.3	7.6	7.8	.001	6.6	7.7	7.7	.000
2. Children's vitamins will successfully protect my child from illness or disease.	5.8	5.5	6.4	6.3	.000	5.9	5.6	5.9	5.8	.590	5.8	5.8	5.9	.859
3. My child's overall health will benefit from taking children's vitamins.	6.7	6.6	7.2	6.7	.038	6.7	6.7	6.8	6.7	.989	6.5	6.9	7.0	.018

Table 4. Confidence in vaccines, antibiotics, over-the-counter medicines and vitamins for children based on behaviors in those areas.

	Child received recommended vaccines to date?				Delayed?				Declined?				Future Intentions?
Confidence Items	None	Some	All	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value
N	310	34	586		704	61	130		704	58	138		173	158	593
How confident are you in each of the following statements:
Vaccine Confidence – Schedule
1. The recommended childhood vaccination schedule is safe.	3.7	5.1	7.8	.000	7.6	7.0	5.8	.000	7.6	6.0	5.4	.000	4.5	5.3	7.8	.000
2. The overall recommended childhood vaccination schedule will protect my child from all the diseases and illnesses.	3.8	5.4	7.7	.000	7.5	6.8	6.1	.000	7.5	6.0	5.6	.000	4.9	5.4	7.7	.000
3. My child's overall health will benefit from getting all the recommended vaccines.	3.5	5.5	8.0	.000	7.7	7.1	6.2	.000	7.8	5.9	5.6	.000	4.5	5.5	8.0	.000
Vaccine Confidence – Individual Vaccines
1. My child won't have a bad or serious adverse reaction to any of the recommended vaccines.	3.6	5.6	7.1	.000	6.9	6.6	6.1	.000	7.0	5.8	5.7	.000	4.1	5.7	7.2	.000
2. Each of the recommended vaccines is effective in protecting my child from disease and illness.	4.0	5.6	7.7	.000	7.5	6.7	6.6	.000	7.6	6.1	5.8	.000	4.8	5.4	7.8	.000
3. My child's overall health benefits from each one of the vaccines in the recommended childhood vaccination schedule.	3.6	5.4	7.7	.000	7.5	6.8	6.2	.000	7.5	6.2	5.6	.000	4.4	5.5	7.8	.000
N	43	195	706		644	67	219		685	56	184		98	119	714
	Child received antibiotic?				Delayed?				Declined?				Future Intentions?
Antibiotics Confidence	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value
1. My child won't have a bad or serious adverse reaction to a recommended children's antibiotic.	6.5	6.9	6.7	.230	6.9	6.1	6.2	.003	6.9	6.1	5.8	.000	6.7	5.4	6.9	.000
2. A recommended children's antibiotic will successfully treat the illness or disease.	6.7	7.0	7.4	.000	7.4	6.3	6.6	.000	7.4	6.7	6.1	.000	6.6	5.7	7.4	.000
3. My child's overall health will benefit from taking a recommended children's antibiotic.	6.4	6.7	7.1	.000	7.1	6.1	6.2	.000	7.1	6.2	5.8	.000	6.4	5.0	7.2	.000
N	318	50	556		714	66	103		724	48	113		113	123	694
	Child received OTC medicine?				Delayed?				Declined?				Future Intentions?
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines Confidence	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value
1. My child won't have a bad or serious adverse reaction to an over-the-counter medicine or drug for children.	6.3	6.1	7.0	.000	7.0	5.8	6.7	.000	7.0	6.3	6.6	.027	6.9	5.4	7.1	.000
2. Over-the-counter medicines and drugs for children will successfully treat the illness or disease.	5.6	6.0	6.5	.000	6.5	5.9	6.8	.002	6.5	6.1	5.7	.000	6.6	4.7	6.5	.000
3. My child's overall health will benefit from taking over-the-counter medicines or drugs for children.	5.4	5.8	6.7	.000	6.6	6.0	5.7	.000	6.6	6.0	5.7	.000	6.6	4.6	6.6	.000
N	176	49	711		700	69	147		693	61	157		147	107	672
	Child received children's vitamin?				Delayed?				Declined?				Future Intentions?
Children's vitamins Confidence	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value
1. My child won't have a bad or serious reaction to a children's vitamin.	6.8	7.0	7.6	.000	7.7	6.1	6.5	.000	7.5	6.5	6.9	.001	7.0	6.5	7.7	.000
2. Children's vitamins will successfully protect my child from illness or disease.	4.7	6.6	6.3	.000	6.1	6.2	5.0	.000	6.0	6.1	5.3	.021	5.0	4.8	6.4	.000
3. My child's overall health will benefit from taking children's vitamins.	5.6	6.8	7.4	.000	7.2	6.4	5.4	.000	7.0	6.3	6.0	.000	5.5	5.5	7.5	.000

Table 5. Confidence in vaccines, antibiotics, over-the-counter medicines and vitamins for children based on adverse reaction experience.

	Any of your children ever had a bad reaction to a vaccine?				Know of anyone who has had a bad reaction to a vaccine?				Know of anyone who has had a vaccine-preventable disease?
Confidence Items	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value
N	731	73	126		617	100	222		579	125	233
How confident are you in each of the following statements:
Vaccine Confidence – Schedule
1. The recommended childhood vaccination schedule is safe.	7.4	5.8	6.4	.000	7.7	6.7	5.5	.000	7.1	7.2	6.9	.558
2. The overall recommended childhood vaccination schedule will protect my child from all the diseases and illnesses.	7.3	5.5	6.5	.000	7.6	6.5	5.7	.000	7.2	7.0	6.8	.134
3. My child's overall health will benefit from getting all the recommended vaccines.	7.6	5.7	6.6	.000	7.8	6.6	6.0	.000	7.3	7.5	7.1	.283
Vaccine Confidence – Individual Vaccines	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value
1. My child won't have a bad or serious adverse reaction to any of the recommended vaccines.	6.9	5.6	6.1	.000	7.1	6.3	5.5	.000	6.7	6.8	6.3	.127
2. Each of the recommended vaccines is effective in protecting my child from disease and illness.	7.4	5.9	6.6	.000	7.6	6.7	6.0	.000	7.2	7.3	7.0	.445
3. My child's overall health benefits from each one of the vaccines in the recommended childhood vaccination schedule.	7.3	5.9	6.4	.000	7.5	6.8	5.8	.000	7.1	7.2	6.8	.286
	Any of your children ever had a bad reaction to an antibiotic?				Know of anyone who has had a bad reaction to an antibiotic?
Antibiotics Confidence	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value
N	680	53	125		529	87	305
1. My child won't have a bad or serious adverse reaction to a recommended children's antibiotic.	7.0	6.7	5.6	.000	7.1	6.2	6.0	.000
2. A recommended children's antibiotic will successfully treat the illness or disease.	7.4	6.7	6.7	.000	7.4	6.6	6.8	.000
3. My child's overall health will benefit from taking a recommended children's antibiotic.	7.1	6.4	6.5	.005	7.2	6.1	6.4	.000
	Any of your children ever had a bad reaction to an OTC medication?				Know of anyone who has had a bad reaction to an OTC medication?
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines Confidence	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value
N	788	63	64		695	76	155
1. My child won't have a bad or serious adverse reaction to an over-the-counter medicine or drug for children.	7.0	6.1	6.4	.003	7.1	6.2	6.2	.000
2. Over-the-counter medicines and drugs for children will successfully treat the illness or disease.	6.4	6.1	6.3	.586	6.6	5.7	5.6	.000
3. My child's overall health will benefit from taking over-the-counter medicines or drugs for children.	6.5	6.1	5.8	.037	6.7	5.8	5.4	.000
	Any of your children ever had a bad reaction to a vitamin?				Know of anyone who has had a bad reaction to a vitamin
Children's vitamins Confidence	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value	No	Unsure	Yes	p-value
N	793	60	48		787	59	81
1. My child won't have a bad or serious reaction to a children's vitamin.	7.5	5.9	7.3	.000	7.5	6.5	6.7	.001
2. Children's vitamins will successfully protect my child from illness or disease.	5.9	6.0	6.8	.067	5.9	5.6	6.0	.637
3. My child's overall health will benefit from taking children's vitamins.	6.9	6.0	7.2	.012	6.9	5.7	6.4	.000