Child immunisation levels in Sydney's Western Metropolitan Region: parental attitudes and nurses' roles.

Research was undertaken to examine childhood immunisation uptake rates, parental attitudes towards immunisation and immunisation services and parents' perceptions of health workers' (especially nurses') contribution to immunisation in the Western Metropolitan Region of Sydney, NSW. After a pilot study a questionnaire was distributed by teachers to a random sample of 450 parents of kindergarten children living in the Region. Data revealed an 84% childhood immunisation rate for all scheduled immunisations up to five years with a partial immunisation rate of 10% (6% did not answer or had gaps in immunisation information). The most significant factors associated with partial immunisation were found to be the socioeconomic and educational status of the children's fathers and itinerancy. Parents of partially immunised children were significantly more likely than parents of totally immunised children to consider that serious side-effects to immunisation do occur. The research also found that parents have a knowledge deficit about the seriousness of measles; that immunisation services in the Region have significant deficiencies and that nurses have a low profile and poor image in the provision of those services. As Early Childhood nurses were considered by parents as providing the most appropriate immunisation nursing service, their further involvement in promoting and extending services is recommended.