Background

Influenza is a major source of morbidity and mortality with an annual global attack rate estimated at 5–10% in adults and 20–30% in children. Influenza vaccination is the main strategy for reducing influenza-related morbidity and mortality. Like several other countries, Peru has low vaccination coverage, estimated at 25–50% among young children and older adults. Therefore, the study objective was to explore the knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and practices related to influenza vaccination among populations at higher risk for infection and/or complications and health professionals in Peru, and their perspectives on health communication channels.

Methods

This qualitative study was carried out in three cities. We held nine focus groups with pregnant and postpartum women, parents of young children, and older adults. We carried out 25 in-depth interviews with health professionals (HPs) working in, leading or advising immunization-related programs.

Results

HPs correctly identified the causes of influenza and HPs and at risk community members identified major symptoms. Community members had poor awareness of the potential severity of influenza and were generally unaware of influenza-related mortality. Both HPs and community members greatly underestimated the prevalence of influenza in Peru. HPs in our study overestimated major side effects of the influenza vaccine and community members perceived that the vaccine caused illness. HPs missed important opportunities to promote vaccination in patients with minor illness (runny nose, allergies, colds) and community members did not understand that the vaccine should be received annually.

Conclusions

There is no single strategy that will increase influenza vaccination rates to World Health Organization recommended levels. Instead, it requires multi-faceted commitment from HPs, other healthcare authorities and the government. Addressing important knowledge barriers, specifically negative views regarding the influenza vaccine and the severe morbidity and mortality associated with influenza illness, both in the community and especially among HPs, could have significant impacts.

中文翻译：

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“流感……比感冒要复杂得多”：秘鲁高危人群和卫生专业人员中与流感和流感疫苗接种有关的知识，信念和做法

背景

流行性感冒是发病率和死亡率的主要来源，估计全球每年的成年人发病率为5-10％，儿童为20-30％。流感疫苗接种是减少与流感相关的发病率和死亡率的主要策略。像其他几个国家一样，秘鲁的疫苗接种率很低，估计在幼儿和老年人中为25％至50％。因此，本研究的目的是在秘鲁具有较高感染和/或并发症风险的人群以及卫生专业人员中探索与流感疫苗接种相关的知识，信念，态度和做法，以及他们对健康交流渠道的看法。

方法

这项定性研究在三个城市进行。我们与孕妇和产后妇女，幼儿父母和老年人举行了9个焦点小组会议。我们与从事，领导或建议免疫相关计划的卫生专业人员（HP）进行了25次深度访谈。

结果

惠普（HP）正确识别了流感的病因，惠普（HP）处于危险之中，社区成员确定了主要症状。社区成员对流感潜在的严重程度了解不足，并且通常不知道与流感相关的死亡率。惠普和社区成员都大大低估了秘鲁的流感流行率。我们研究中的HP高估了流感疫苗的主要副作用，社区成员认为该疫苗可引起疾病。HP错过了在重症患者（流鼻涕，过敏，感冒）中促进疫苗接种的重要机会，社区成员不了解应每年接种疫苗。

结论

没有单一的策略可以将流感疫苗的接种率提高到世界卫生组织建议的水平。相反，它需要惠普，其他医疗机构和政府的多方面承诺。解决重要的知识障碍，特别是在社区，尤其是在HP中，对流感疫苗以及与流感相关的严重发病率和死亡率的负面看法可能会产生重大影响。