Field Placement: Los Angeles
County Department of Health Services, Immunization Program
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Preceptor: Nidhi Nakra, African American Outreach Coordinator
Student Name: November McGarvey
Year: 2004
My internship position was developed in response to 1) the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Immunization Practices Committee’s
new recommendation that healthy children ages 6-23 months receive annual influenza
immunizations and 2) national and state data that illustrate a disparity in
the overall immunization coverage rates of African American preschool-aged children
in comparison with other ethnic groups. As the project has taken over the allotted
400 hours, the project is still ongoing.
Purpose & Objectives:
As a result of my community needs assessment regarding childhood influenza immunization,
I determined a need to better develop future culturally appropriate childhood
influenza immunization messages and materials for African American parents and
guardians of young children ages 6-23 months. Objectives for the study consist
of the following: 1) identify factors and barriers influencing
the completion of childhood influenza immunizations, 2) assess
parents’ and guardians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices related
to childhood influenza immunization, and 3) identify culturally
appropriate methods and messages to encourage timely childhood influenza immunizations
among the surveyed population.
Target Group: Target areas in Los Angeles County were chosen by zip
code based primarily on the presence of 1) both a high number
and percentage of African Americans, 2) a high percentage of
children under the age of five, and 3) a high percentage of
residents living below the federal poverty level. Eligible participants meet
the following criteria: he/she 1) is a parent or legal guardian
of a child 6-23 months old, 2) lives with the child 6-23 months
old, 3) resides in defined target areas in LA County (90008,
90016, 90018, 90043, 90044, 90047, 90059, 90061, 90062, 90220, 90301, 90302,
90303, & 90305), and 4) is African American.
Methods & Procedures: The project will consist of research in two phases: Phase I – exploratory research and Phase II – concept and message development. In Phase I, 7 focus groups, with 8-10 participants each, will be conducted. These focus groups will determine the target population(s)’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices in relation to childhood influenza immunization and will aid the development of messages for a future mass media childhood influenza campaign targeting African American parents. During Phase II, 2-3 focus groups, with 8-10 individuals each, will be conducted to pilot test influenza messages. Following completion of the study, data findings and a discussion will be compiled into a written report and disseminated to community partners. Culturally tailored immunization messages and media will also be developed and disseminated in the community to aid in reducing influenza immunization coverage disparities among African American children ages 6-23 months old.
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