Tailored intervention with peer-to-peer as a tool to promote childhood vaccination in migrants

Abstract

Background A tailored intervention about childhood vaccination in Stockholm, Sweden, has focused on different activities with the aim to improve vaccination confidence and in particular Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination coverage. The intervention included provided peer education focusing on vaccination information, the vaccine-preventable diseases, child development and communication skills in Somali and Swedish language and for the peers to further inform other parents in their communities. Aim This study aims to explore peers’ experiences of the interventions and their role to promote vaccination confidence. Methods This study follows a qualitative methodology with in-depth interviews and the data collection is ongoing. The study participants consist of seven peers who participated in the program. The interviews aimed to explore how the peers used the training in real life. All interviews conducted were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim in order to facilitate deep content analysis. The analysis followed a content analysis, by first coding the data and then developing categories and emerging themes. Results Preliminary findings show that peers expressed the importance of having a training that equipped them with knowledge and confidence to discuss fact-based information with hesitant parents. The peers shared that after the training they had several opportunities to talk about childhood vaccinations in particular MMR vaccination with other parents. Some peers took an active role in reaching other parents by utilising the film and the cards to facilitate their dialogue. Other also acknowledged that when they could not answer a specific question, they encouraged the parents to address the query with the child health clinic nurses. Conclusions The use of a peer-to-peer concept to increase vaccination confidence provides additional forums for parents to dialogue about their concerns and receive correct vaccination information. Key messages Tailored interventions in close collaboration with communities are crucial for sustainable improvements of vaccination acceptance and coverage. The peer-to-peer concept provides a new arena to reach vaccination hesitant parents and can complement the communication on vaccination from health care provides.

Successful Public Policy in the Nordic Countries

“…Even so, it is clear that that the changing social context in which the CVP is situated calls for a further development of the methods used by regional and local health authorities to reach out to and build trust amongst parental groups that are less integrated in Swedish society. Several recent projects indicate that this could be achieved with the help of culturally sensitive work methods, for instance regarding the manner of communication or through the assistance from representatives of immigrant communities (Godoy-Ramirez et al 2019;Jama et al 2020). During the Covid-19 pandemic, there were also examples of non-governmental organizations such as the Red Cross and the City Mission assisting public health authorities by reaching out to and administering vaccinations to undocumented migrants and the homeless.…”