The Influence of Mothers’ Native Country on Multicultural Adolescents’ Seasonal Influenza Vaccinations in Multicultural Adolescents Using Data from the 13th (2017) Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the mothers’ native country on influenza vaccinations in adolescents in multicultural families. Methods: Data were gathered from the 13th (2017) Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey. Logistic regression analyses were conducted using a complex sample data analysis method. The participants in this study had a father who was born in Korea and a mother born outside of Korea. The sample included 481 adolescents. Results: The analysis of non-adjusted confounding variables showed that influenza vaccination was higher in multicultural adolescents whose mother’s native country had an annual minimum temperature less than 21°C (odds ratio [OR]: 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20~2.74). Furthermore, when the analysis was adjusted for confounding variables, an annual minimum temperature less than 21°C in the mother’s native country had a statistically significant association with influenza vaccination (OR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.36~3.29). Conclusion: Multicultural adolescents belong to a socioeconomically vulnerable class, and their health promotion behaviors are influenced by their mothers’ culture. Thus, healthcare providers and school nurses should provide adolescents with appropriate information related to influenza vaccination depending on their mothers’ culture and their family’s cultural background.

Keywords

• Adolescents
• Mothers
• Influenza vaccines
• Immigrants
• Cultural diversity