Abstract

Parental hesitancy toward childhood vaccinations continues to present challenges for healthcare providers, public health agencies, and communities striving to protect children from preventable diseases. This project explored the factors that influence parents' decisions about vaccinating their children, using Rosenstock's Health Belief Model (HBM) as the guiding theoretical framework. A review of the literature indicated that vaccine hesitancy rarely stems from a single cause; rather, it reflects a combination of concerns, including fear of side effects, mistrust in the healthcare system, inconsistent information, cultural influences, and varying levels of confidence in medical recommendations. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was used to examine parental beliefs and behaviors surrounding childhood vaccination. A questionnaire was distributed through pediatric, family practice, health department, and OBGYN clinics across Mississippi, as well as online, using both in-person handouts and QR codes. A total of 159 parents or legal guardians of children 17 years and younger completed the survey. Most participants were assigned female at birth (88.2%), between 26 and 33 years old (50.0%), identified as Caucasian/White (84.1%), and held a bachelor's degree or higher (61.8%). Nearly half reported having one child (44.7%). Results indicated that most parents felt confident making informed vaccination decisions and trusted their child's healthcare provider's recommendations. Despite this confidence, vaccine hesitancy remained common: 41.2% of parents reported delaying at least one recommended vaccine, and 40.6% reported refusing at least one or all recommended vaccines. Uncertainty about vaccine safety and vaccine benefits were the most frequently cited reasons for delaying or refusing vaccination, while logistical barriers such as cost, scheduling, and transportation played a minimal role. Chi-square analyses revealed statistically significant associations between vaccine hesitancy and parental age, ethnicity, education level, and number of children, as well as between immunization status and both education level and number of children. The findings suggest that vaccine hesitancy is driven more by beliefs and perceptions of risk than by access barriers, and that healthcare provider communication remains an important, though not always sufficient, influence on parental decision-making. These results support the need for targeted, evidence-based education and communication strategies that address specific parental concerns about vaccine safety and effectiveness.

Degree

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Degree Date

2026

First Advisor

Dr. Laura Beth Turner

Document Type

Thesis

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