Social circles play a vital role in influencing parents' decision about vaccinating their children, a latest study revealed.
The research focused on 'people networks,' and 'source networks' groups. 'People networks' constitute family, friends and physicians; whereas 'source networks' include books, magazines, news programs and the Internet.
The study showed that the impact of 'people networks' is more than the 'source networks' when it came to vaccination, said study author Emily K. Brunson, M.P.H., Ph.D., of the department of anthropology at Texas State University, San Marcos.
For the research 196 first-time parents, who had children aged 18 months or younger, were surveyed online. The study revealed that in the group, 126 'conformers' followed the nationally recommended vaccination schedule, while 70 'non-conformers' delayed vaccination, didn't vaccinate completely or did not vaccinate at all.
The research found that at least 95 percent of parents in both groups stated that they consulted or took advice from 'people networks' on vaccination decisions. They confessed that they paid the most attention to their partner's decision. This was followed by health care providers, friends and relatives.
In the non conformers' group, 72 percent of friends and relatives advised against national recommendations (i.e. vaccination schedule). Only 13 percent of conformers' friends and family members advised them to go with the nationally recommended schedule.
Brunson was unsure whether "the networks are driving the decisions, or are the decisions driving the networks?"
The study makes it clear that one's social circle plays a great role in the decision making and also what one says to others regarding the decision is also an influencing factor.
