Childhood Immunization: Awareness & Beliefs
MODULE INFORMATION
PURPOSE OF THE MODULE:
To address or inform some of the outcomes and requirements related to the Vaccine Preventable Diseases in the Ontario Public Health Standards 2008, within the Infectious Diseases Program Standards.
OPHS Outcomes & Requirements:
· Societal Outcome: increased public knowledge of immunization.
· BOH Outcomes: The public is aware of the importance of immunization across the lifespan; Children have up-to-date immunizations according to the current Publicly Funded Immunization Schedules for Ontario and in accordance with the Immunization of School Pupils Act and the Day Nurseries Act.
· Assessment & Surveillance Requirement: The board of health shall conduct epidemiological analysis of surveillance data, including monitoring of trends over time, emerging trends, and priority populations.
· Health Promotion & Policy Development Requirement: The board of health shall work with community partners to improve public knowledge and confidence in immunization.
Reference: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Ontario Public Health Standards 2008 – Infectious Diseases Program Standards Program Standards. 2008; pg.39
MODULE HISTORY:
Module added to questionnaire January 2010, cycle 4.
DATA DICTIONARY HISTORY:
Created: November 14, 2010
Revised: November 17, 2016
Revision: Updated Interviewer note for childimm3 to childimm5 to reflect current Ontario Immunization of School Pupils Act requirements.
Deleted:
MODULE QUESTIONS
VARIABLE NAME: childimm1
VARIABLE HISTORY:
Cycle 4 – new variable
QUESTION:
Earlier you said that there was/were a child/children between 4 and 17 years old living in the household.
Can you please tell me if this (ANY of the) child(ren) attend(s) school outside of the home?
Response Options
1 yes
5 no
8 don’t know
9 refused
ANALYSIS ISSUES:
· Only asked of respondents where at least one child between 4 and 17 years of age is living in the household.
COMPARABILITY TO OTHER SURVEYS:
CCHS: None
NPHS: None
BRFSS: None
VALIDITY/RELIABILITY TESTS: None
EVALUATION QUESTIONS: Cycle 4 – asked only in Brant for 415 respondents. Less than 5% identified any of the questions as difficult to understand.
MODULE QUESTIONS
VARIABLE NAME: childimm2
VARIABLE HISTORY:
Cycle 4 – new variable
QUESTION:
Can you please tell me if you are a parent, step parent or legal guardian of this (ANY of these) child(ren)?
Response Options
1 yes
5 no
8 don’t know
9 refused
ANALYSIS ISSUES:
· Only asked of respondents where at least one child between 4 and 17 years of age is living in the household and attends school outside of the home (childimm1=1).
COMPARABILITY TO OTHER SURVEYS:
CCHS: None
NPHS: None
BRFSS: None
VALIDITY/RELIABILITY TESTS: None
EVALUATION QUESTIONS: Cycle 4 – asked only in Brant for 415 respondents. Less than 5% identified any of the questions as difficult to understand.
MODULE QUESTIONS
VARIABLE NAME: childimm3
VARIABLE HISTORY:
Cycle 4 – new variable
QUESTION:
Now I'm going to ask you some questions about childhood immunizations.
Immunization or vaccination is a method of protecting children from infectious disease. Immunizations are also sometimes called injections or shots.
Are you aware that up-to-date immunizations are required for all children attending school in Ontario by law for certain diseases, unless you provide a signed exemption form for the child?
Interviewer: If the respondent asks which vaccines are required say: "diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, meningococcal, chickenpox (varicella) and whooping cough (pertussis)". If the respondent asks the name of the law say the "Immunization of School Pupils Act". If respondent asks about the exemptions or how to get vaccines please refer them to the health unit's website as provided on the health units' info sheet.
Response Options
1 yes
5 no
8 don’t know
9 refused
ANALYSIS ISSUES:
· Only asked of respondents that identified themselves as a parent or guardian (childimm2=1) of at least one child between 4 and 17 years of age living in the household and attending school outside of the home (childimm1=1).
COMPARABILITY TO OTHER SURVEYS:
CCHS: None
NPHS: None
BRFSS: None
VALIDITY/RELIABILITY TESTS: None
EVALUATION QUESTIONS: Cycle 4 – asked only in Brant for 415 respondents. Less than 5% identified any of the questions as difficult to understand.
MODULE QUESTIONS
VARIABLE NAME: childimm4
VARIABLE HISTORY:
Cycle 4 – new variable
QUESTION:
Are you aware that parents and guardians are responsible for maintaining up-to-date immunization records for certain diseases with their local public health unit?
Interviewer: If the respondent asks which vaccines are required, say: "diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, meningococcal, chickenpox (varicella) and whooping cough (pertussis)". If the respondent asks the name of the law, say: “the Immunization of School Pupils Act". If the respondent asks about when they are supposed to report this to the health unit, respond: "when the child starts school and whenever the child receives a vaccination". If the respondent asks, this does not include clinics (in schools, at other public places or at the health unit) administered by their local public health unit. If respondent asks about the exemptions or how to get vaccines, please refer them to the health unit's website as provided on the health units' info sheet.
Response Options
1 yes
5 no
8 don’t know
9 refused
ANALYSIS ISSUES:
· Only asked of respondents that identified themselves as a parent or guardian (childimm2=1) of at least one child between 4 and 17 years of age living in the household and attending school outside of the home (childimm1=1).
· Only asked if the respondent is aware of the legislative requirement (childimm3=1).
COMPARABILITY TO OTHER SURVEYS:
CCHS: None
NPHS: None
BRFSS: None
VALIDITY/RELIABILITY TESTS: None
EVALUATION QUESTIONS: Cycle 4 – asked only in Brant for 415 respondents. Less than 5% identified any of the questions as difficult to understand.
MODULE QUESTIONS
VARIABLE NAME: childimm5
VARIABLE HISTORY:
Cycle 4 – new variable
QUESTION:
Are you aware that a child can be suspended from school for not providing their local public health unit with up-to-date immunization information or a signed exemption form for that child?
Interviewer: If the respondent asks which vaccines are required, say: "diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, meningococcal, chickenpox (varicella) and whooping cough (pertussis)". If the respondent asks the name of the law, say:"the Immunization of School Pupils Act". If respondent asks about the exemptions or how to get vaccines, please refer them to the health unit's website as provided on the health units' info sheet.
Response Options
1 yes
5 no
8 don’t know
9 refused
ANALYSIS ISSUES:
· Only asked of respondents that identified themselves as a parent or guardian (childimm2=1) of at least one child between 4 and 17 years of age living in the household and attending school outside of the home (childimm1=1).
· Only asked if the respondent is aware of the legislative requirement (childimm3=1).
COMPARABILITY TO OTHER SURVEYS:
CCHS: None
NPHS: None
BRFSS: None
VALIDITY/RELIABILITY TESTS: None
EVALUATION QUESTIONS: Cycle 4 – asked only in Brant for 415 respondents. Less than 5% identified any of the questions as difficult to understand.
MODULE QUESTIONS
VARIABLE NAME: childimm6
VARIABLE HISTORY:
Cycle 4 – new variable
QUESTION:
I am now going to read a couple of statements about childhood immunizations. Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with each statement.
By immunizing children we are protecting them from disease. Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree?
Interviewer: if the respondent asks for clarification, say: "protecting children from the disease that they were immunized against".
Response Options
1 strongly agree
2 somewhat agree
3 somewhat disagree
4 strongly disagree
8 don’t know
9 refused
ANALYSIS ISSUES:
· Only asked of respondents that identified themselves as a parent or guardian (childimm2=1) of at least one child between 4 and 17 years of age living in the household and attending school outside of the home (childimm1=1).
COMPARABILITY TO OTHER SURVEYS:
CCHS: None
NPHS: None
BRFSS: None
VALIDITY/RELIABILITY TESTS: None
EVALUATION QUESTIONS: Cycle 4 – asked only in Brant for 415 respondents. Less than 5% identified any of the questions as difficult to understand.
MODULE QUESTIONS
VARIABLE NAME: childimm7
VARIABLE HISTORY:
Cycle 4 – new variable
QUESTION:
Vaccines are safe for children to have. Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree?
Response Options
1 strongly agree
2 somewhat agree
3 somewhat disagree
4 strongly disagree
8 don’t know
9 refused
ANALYSIS ISSUES:
· Only asked of respondents that identified themselves as a parent or guardian (childimm2=1) of at least one child between 4 and 17 years of age living in the household and attending school outside of the home (childimm1=1).
COMPARABILITY TO OTHER SURVEYS:
CCHS: None
NPHS: None
BRFSS: None
VALIDITY/RELIABILITY TESTS: None
EVALUATION QUESTIONS: Cycle 4 – asked only in Brant for 415 respondents. Less than 5% identified any of the questions as difficult to understand.
MODULE INDICATORS
awareness of ontario law that requires up-to-date immunizations (or valid exemption) for all children attending school
INDICATOR DESCRIPTION:
% of parents (18+) of school children (4-17 years) aware that up-to-date immunizations (or valid exemption) are required for all children attending school in Ontario by law.
INDICATOR OBJECTIVES:
To address or inform some of the outcomes and requirements related to the Vaccine Preventable Diseases in the Ontario Public Health Standards 2008, within the Infectious Diseases Program Standards. That requires boards of health to work with community partners to improve public knowledge and confidence in immunization.
ANALYSIS CHECK LIST:
· Include parents (childimm2=1) 18+ of at least one child 4-17 years of age that attends school outside of the home (childimm1=1) in the denominator.
· Weight by the household weight.
METHOD OF CALCULATION:
# that report being aware that up-to-date immunizations are required for all children attending school in Ontario by law (childimm3=1)parents (18+) of at least one child 4 to 17 years of age that attends school outside the home (childimm1=1 and childimm2=1)
MODULE INDICATORS
awareness of requirement to notify public health each time their child receives an immunization
INDICATOR DESCRIPTION:
% of parents (18+) of school children (4-17 years) aware of the requirement to notify their local public health unit each time their child is immunized.
INDICATOR OBJECTIVES:
To address or inform some of the outcomes and requirements related to the Vaccine Preventable Diseases in the Ontario Public Health Standards 2008, within the Infectious Diseases Program Standards. That requires boards of health to work with community partners to improve public knowledge and confidence in immunization.
ANALYSIS CHECK LIST:
· This question is only asked of respondents that are aware of the law that requires children attending school in Ontario to have up-to-date immunizations (childimm3=1).
· However, the denominator should still include all parents (childimm2=1) 18+ of at least one child 4-17 years of age that attends school outside of the home (childimm1=1). The assumption is that if they are not aware of the law they could not possibly be aware of a requirement to report the immunization status to public health.
· Weight by the household weight.
METHOD OF CALCULATION:
# that report being aware of the requirement to notify their local public health unit each time their child is immunized (childimm4=1)parents (18+) of at least one child 4 to 17 years of age that attends school outside the home (childimm1=1 and childimm2=1)
MODULE INDICATORS
awareness of possibility of suspension from school for not providing public health with up-to-date immunization informaton
INDICATOR DESCRIPTION:
% of parents (18+) of school children (4-17 years) aware of the possibility of suspension from school for not providing their local public health unit with up-to-date immunization information (or valid exemption).
INDICATOR OBJECTIVES:
To address or inform some of the outcomes and requirements related to the Vaccine Preventable Diseases in the Ontario Public Health Standards 2008, within the Infectious Diseases Program Standards. That requires boards of health to work with community partners to improve public knowledge and confidence in immunization.
ANALYSIS CHECK LIST:
· This question is only asked of respondents that are aware of the law that requires children attending school in Ontario to have up-to-date immunizations (childimm3=1).
· However, the denominator should still include all parents (childimm2=1) 18+ of at least one child 4-17 years of age that attends school outside of the home (childimm1=1). The assumption is that if they are not aware of the law they could not possibly be aware of a requirement to report the immunization status to public health.
· Weight by the household weight.
METHOD OF CALCULATION:
# that report being aware their child could be suspended from school for not providing their local public health unit with up-to-date immunization information (childimm5=1)parents (18+) of at least one child 4 to 17 years of age that attends school outside the home (childimm1=1 and childimm2=1)
MODULE INDICATORS
Believe that immunization children protects them from disease
INDICATOR DESCRIPTION:
% of parents (18+) of school children (4-17 years) that agree (strongly/somewhat) that immunizing children protects them from disease.
INDICATOR OBJECTIVES:
To address or inform some of the outcomes and requirements related to the Vaccine Preventable Diseases in the Ontario Public Health Standards 2008, within the Infectious Diseases Program Standards. That requires boards of health to work with community partners to improve public knowledge and confidence in immunization.
ANALYSIS CHECK LIST:
· The denominator should include all parents (childimm2=1) 18+ of at least one child 4-17 years of age that attends school outside of the home (childimm1=1).
· Weight by the household weight.
METHOD OF CALCULATION:
# that agree (strongly or somewhat) that immunizing children protects them from disease (childimm6=1 or childimm6=2)parents (18+) of at least one child 4 to 17 years of age that attends school outside the home (childimm1=1 and childimm2=1)
MODULE INDICATORS
Believe that vaccines are safe for children to have
INDICATOR DESCRIPTION:
% of parents (18+) of school children (4-17 years) that agree (strongly/somewhat) that vaccines are safe for children to have.