Understanding Brazilian Children's Views on Vaccination
Author Information
Author(s): de Gaspi Suelen, Magalhães Júnior Carlos Alberto de Oliveira, Tracana Rosa Branca, Schneider Eduarda Maria, Carvalho Graça S.
Primary Institution: Federal Institute of Paraná
Hypothesis
What are the social representations of vaccination among Brazilian primary school children?
Conclusion
Children associate vaccination primarily with needles and pain, highlighting the need for better education on its importance.
Supporting Evidence
- Children's social representations of vaccination are influenced by their experiences and societal context.
- The most frequently evoked words were 'needle' and 'pain', indicating a fear associated with vaccination.
- Children recognize vaccination as a protective measure but often do not understand its broader importance for public health.
- The study highlights the need for improved science education regarding vaccination in schools.
Takeaway
Kids think getting vaccinated means getting a shot, which can hurt, so we need to teach them why vaccines are important for everyone.
Methodology
The study used the free word recall technique to gather children's ideas about vaccination.
Limitations
The study only included a small sample of children from one school, which may not represent all Brazilian children.
Participant Demographics
12 boys and 8 girls aged between 9 and 12 from a municipal school in Paraná, Brazil.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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