Peer-reviewed article
“Anees Has Measles”: Storytelling and Singing to Enhance MMR Vaccination in Child Care Centers Amid Religious Hesitancy
Therdpong Thongseiratch, Puttichart Khantee, Naphat Jaroenmark, Napatsaree Nuttapasit, Nithida Thonglua ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study tested a culturally tailored intervention to increase MMR vaccination rates in southern Thailand, where religious hesitancy was a barrier. The intervention used storytelling and singing with traditional melodies and religious sensitivity, developed with community input including religious leaders. Vaccination coverage increased from 44.3% before the intervention to 77.0% four years later, a substantial and sustained improvement.
Key points
- MMR vaccination coverage increased from 44.3% to 72.0% at 12 months post-intervention and 77.0% at 48 months
- The intervention was culturally tailored, incorporating traditional melodies and input from health workers, religious leaders, and parents
- The improvement was statistically significant (p < 0.001) and sustained over time
- The study was conducted across eight districts in five provinces in southern Thailand from December 2019 to March 2020
- The approach addresses vaccine hesitancy in conservative and religiously sensitive communities
Limitations
The document does not specify the comparison group design or control conditions, making it unclear whether improvements were due to the intervention or secular trends. No information is provided about potential confounding factors or the representativeness of the child care centers studied.
Abstract
This study explores the enhancement of MMR vaccination rates in the deep south of Thailand through a culturally tailored intervention that incorporates storytelling and singing, aligning with local cultural and religious values. The “Anees has Measles” intervention, developed with input from community stakeholders including health workers, religious leaders, and parents, featured traditional melodies in its singing activities. The intervention comprised two main components: storytelling sessions and singing activities, both utilizing culturally resonant content and formats to effectively engage the community. Conducted from December 2019 to March 2020 across eight districts in five provinces, the study targeted children aged 18 months to 5 years in government child care centers. Results indicated a substantial increase in MMR vaccination coverage from 44.3% to 72.0% twelve months post-intervention, and further to 77.0% at 48 months post-intervention, representing a significant and sustained improvement (p < 0.001). This marked and continuous increase demonstrates the effectiveness of culturally adapted health education in areas with significant vaccine hesitancy. The findings highlight the importance of integrating culturally and religiously sensitive methods into public health strategies, significantly enhancing vaccine acceptance and coverage in diverse and conservative settings. This approach suggests a broader applicability for similar interventions in comparable contexts globally.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Culturally tailored storytelling and singing activities featuring traditional melodies and religious sensitivity, developed with input from health workers, religious leaders, and parents
- Population
- Children aged 18 months to 5 years in government child care centers across eight districts in five provinces in southern Thailand
Key finding
MMR vaccination coverage increased from 44.3% at baseline to 72.0% at 12 months post-intervention