التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
| العنوان: |
Challenges to immunization: the experiences of homeless youth |
| المؤلفون: |
Doroshenko, Alexander, Hatchette, Jill, Halperin, Scott A, MacDonald, Noni E, Graham, Janice E |
| بيانات النشر: |
BioMed Central Ltd. |
| سنة النشر: |
2012 |
| المجموعة: |
BioMed Central |
| مصطلحات موضوعية: |
Homeless youth, Hard to reach population, Vaccines, Immunization programs, Infectious diseases, Invasive meningococcal disease |
| الوصف: |
Background Homelessness is a critical social issue, both a product of, and contributing to, poor mental and physical health. Over 150,000 young Canadians live on the streets. Homeless youth experience a high incidence of infectious diseases, many of which are vaccine preventable. Early departure from school and limited access to public health services makes them a particularly vulnerable high-risk group. This study explores challenges to obtaining essential vaccines experienced by homeless youth. Methods A qualitative research study to explore knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and experiences surrounding immunization of hard-to-reach homeless youth was designed. Participants were recruited for focus groups from Phoenix House and Shelter, a non-profit, community-based organization assisting homeless youth in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. An experienced facilitator guided the recorded discussions. Transcripts of audiotapes were analyzed using a constant comparative method until data revealed a set of exemplars and themes that best captured participants’ knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and experiences surrounding immunization and infectious diseases. Results Important themes emerged from our analysis. Considerable variability in knowledge about immunization and vaccine preventable diseases was found. The homeless youth in the study had limited awareness of meningitis in contrast to a greater knowledge about sexually transmitted infections and influenza, gained during the H1N1/09 public health campaign. They recognized their poverty as a risk for contracting infectious diseases, along with their inability to always employ known strategies to prevent infectious diseases, due to circumstances. They showed considerable insight into the detrimental effects of poor hygiene, sleeping locations and risk behaviour. Interviewed homeless youth regarded themselves as good compliers of health professional advice and offered valuable suggestions to improve immunization in their population. Conclusions To provide effective ... |
| نوع الوثيقة: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| اللغة: |
English |
| العلاقة: |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/338Test |
| الإتاحة: |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/338Test |
| حقوق: |
Copyright 2012 Doroshenko et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. |
| رقم الانضمام: |
edsbas.114C55A1 |
| قاعدة البيانات: |
BASE |
