Parental predictors of childhood vaccination adherence in border areas of Southern Vietnam: a first look at minority communities

Abstract

Objectives  Suboptimal timeliness and coverage of childhood vaccination programs undermined their effectiveness in achieving population-level immunity. This issue is particularly concerning among minority populations, where disparities in vaccination adherence persist. To address this gap, the study assessed the extent of parental adherence to age-appropriate childhood vaccination and its predictors among the minority children under five years of age.

Methods  This cross-sectional study was conducted in three districts of Dong Thap Province, Vietnam, and neighboring Cambodia. A total of 449 ethnic minority parents with children under five years old participated. Data were gathered through face-to-face household interviews using a structured questionnaire, complemented by direct observation of the children’s vaccination cards to verify adherence. Binary logistic regression was used to identify predictors of vaccination adherence.

Results  The adherence rate to childhood vaccination among children in the minority population was 18.9 %. Parental adherence was significantly higher for children under one year of age (aOR = 2.54, 95 % CI: 1.29-5.03) and for firstborn children (aOR = 3.48, 95 % CI: 1.36-9.92). Within the Health Belief Model framework, greater perceived barriers were associated with lower adherence (aOR = 0.32, 95 % CI: 0.21-0.49), while higher parental self-efficacy was linked to increased adherence (aOR = 1.84, 95 % CI: 1.11-3.11).

Conclusion  This study revealed a low parental adherence rate (18.9 %) to childhood vaccination. A child’s age, birth order, perceived barriers, and parental self-efficacy influenced adherence. These findings emphasize the need to incorporate these factors into targeted policies and interventions for improving immunization rates in minority populations and comparable settings.

Keywords
Immunization coverage; Parents/psychology; Health belief model; Minority groups