 Trends in personal belief exemption rates among alternative private schools: Waldorf, Montessori, and holistic Kindergartens in California, 2000-2014J.M. Brennan, R.A. Bednarczyk, J.L. Richards, K.E. Allen, G.J. Warraich and S.B. Omer American Journal of Public Health, 2017, vol. 107, issue 1, 108-112 Abstract: Objectives. To evaluate trends in rates of personal belief exemptions (PBEs) to immunization requirements for private kindergartens in California that practice alternative educational methods. Methods.Weused California Department ofPublic Health dataon kindergartenPBErates from 2000 to 2014 to compare annual average increases in PBE rates between schools. Results. Alternative schools had an average PBE rate of 8.7%, compared with 2.1% among public schools. Waldorf schools had the highest average PBE rate of 45.1%, which was 19 timeshigher than inpublic schools (incidence rate ratio = 19.1;95%confidence interval = 16.4, 22.2).Montessori and holistic schools had the highest average annual increases in PBE rates, slightly higher than Waldorf schools (Montessori: 8.8%; holistic: 7.1%; Waldorf: 3.6%). Conclusions. Waldorf schools had exceptionally high average PBE rates, and Montessori and holistic schools had higher annual increases in PBE rates. Children in these schools may be at higher risk for spreading vaccine-preventable diseases if trends are not reversed. Date: 2017 Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2016.303498_7 Access Statistics for this article American Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Alfredo Morabia More articles in American Journal of Public Health from American Public Health Association |
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