International Programs

The purpose of this study is to gain further insight into parental knowledge and attitudes toward child immunizations by comparing the responses of adults from two distinct regions: Benton County, Oregon, United States of America and Santander, Cantabria, Spain. The study examines the effects of two health care systems on parental knowledge and attitudes toward state regulated child immunization practices. The tool used in the survey was a questionnaire. There were 111 surveys distributed in each region. In Santander 48 surveys were completed. In Benton County 40 surveys were completed. Results of the study show that the participants in Santander's public health care system express a higher level of satisfaction with their current health care than those participants in the predominately private health care system of Benton County. Adults in Santander are also more likely than those in Benton County to support local state health programs and recommendations. In addition, participants in Santander expressed greater approval of the state in determining the requirements of vaccine administration over the pediatrician. On the other hand, those in Benton
County reported a preference for the pediatrician to determine vaccine administration over the state. Overall, the Santander surveyed reported a higher level of satisfaction with local child immunization regulations over their counterparts in Benton County. These findings suggest that public health care systems are met with greater parental satisfaction than private health care systems with regard to child immunization practices.