Assessing Trust in Physician and Vaccine Hesitancy Among Hispanic/Latinx Parents

Abstract

Introduction: Representing the USA's largest ethnic/racial group, Hispanic/Latinx (HL) experience health challenges of proportional magnitude. This study investigates the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among HL adults and trust in their child's pediatrician. Methods: HL parents of children who receive medical care at one of the largest Federally Qualified Health Centers in the United States completed a survey examining associations between physician trust, vaccine hesitancy, and demographics. Data were subjected to ANOVA via SAS9 version 9.0 (Cary, NC) and SPSS version 27 (Chicago, IL) software. Results: With a total of 500 surveys completed (51% response rate; 81% completion rate), the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy amounted to 15.4% (n = 77). Parents with university-level education displayed higher levels of trust and perceptions in favor of routine vaccination practices (p < .01). When medical visits were conducted in Spanish, parents exhibited lower levels of trust and were more vaccine-hesitant (p < .01). Conclusions: Vaccine literacy must be prioritized in early education to reach parents who may not achieve college degrees. Ensuring language concordance within patient–physician dyads may maximize the potential for vaccine uptake and physician trust.