Mothers as Active Partners in the Prevention of Childhood Diseases: Maternal Factors Related to Immunization Status of Preschool Children in Italy

Background. We examined how maternal socio-demographic factors, together with mother's education, knowledge, and perception of immunizations, can affect the uptake of optional vaccinations of preschool children in Italy. Methods. Interviews of Italian mothers were performed using a structured questionnaire administered by trained interviewers with no specific medical competence. Results. A convenience sample of 1,035 mothers were interviewed. Fifty-nine percent of the respondents reported to have had their child immunized with the MMR vaccine and 54% reported to have had their child immunized against pertussis. In logistic regression analysis, three variables were significantly associated with both the immunization outcomes: mother's positive attitude toward immunization (OR = 1.69; IC 1.13–2.52 for pertussis; OR = 1.86, IC 1.17–2.96 for MMR); mothers' residency in the North of the country (OR = 1.74; IC 1.32–2.30 for pertussis; OR = 1.63, IC 1.18–2.24 for MMR); and mother's receipt of satisfactory information on immunization (OR = 1.67; IC 1.15–2.21 for pertussis; OR = 2.25, IC 1.47–3.43 for MMR). An immunization performed in recent years (after 1994), probably following the widespread use of acellular vaccine, was the most significant predictor for pertussis immunization (OR = 3.21; IC 2.43–4.24). Conclusions. The findings suggest that mothers' attitudes, educational level, and socio-demographic characteristics, as well as socio-economic factors and local health policies, can influence children's immunization uptake. Health promotion, based on a partnership between parents and health professionals, should become a priority in Italian vaccination policies.