Community perceptions about infectious disease risk posed by new arrivals: A qualitative study

Abstract

Objective: To report on perceptions about the risk of infectious diseases from new arrivals to Australia arising from a wider study of mothers' attitudes to childhood vaccination.

Design, participants and setting: Six focus groups on perceptions about the benefits and risks of vaccination with 37 mothers of children aged 5 weeks to 18 years, mostly conducted in middle-class areas of Sydney between 6 October and 15 December 1999.

Main outcome measures: Mothers' views about infectious disease risk posed by immigration as a major reason to favour immunising children.

Results: The idea of immigration being the primary source of infectious diseases was striking, and arose among a number of participants in every group conversation. Mothers expressed their dread of new diseases "from overseas", and a sense that there are "more germs nowadays", mostly from increased immigration to Australia and international travel. Some perceived people coming from other countries as having more disease because of an innate susceptibility or through cultural practices.

Conclusion: Recent media coverage about infectious diseases importation by African refugees not only feeds, but reflects, community concerns about new arrivals as a source of allegedly rampant infection threatening Australians. These concerns have little evidence base. Public health advocates need to be proactive with the media to provide sophisticated counter-messages that expose the underlying subtexts and educate the community about the true risks of infectious diseases.