Abstract:Background: Vaccine hesitancy remains a pressing global health issue, particularly in low- to middle-income countries like the Philippines. This study investigates the correlation between the World Health Organization’s 3C model (Confidence, Complacency, and Convenience) and pentavalent vaccine hesitancy among Filipino mothers. The research responds to a growing need to understand behavioral and systemic barriers to vaccination in urban poor communities. Specifically, it aims to determine the association between each of the 3Cs and pentavalent vaccine hesitancy in selected barangays in Quezon City. Methods: A quantitative, non-experimental correlational design was utilized, employing adapted Likert-scale tools. Eighty-five Filipino mothers aged 18 and above with at least one child aged 0 1 year participated through convenience sampling. Data were analyzed using Spearman’s rho to measure correlations between each factor and vaccine hesitancy. Results: Confidence and complacency were found to be significant predictors of vaccine hesitancy (r = -0.257, P = 0.019; r = 0.304, P = 0.005, respectively). Confidence was characterized by trust in healthcare providers and vaccine efficacy. Complacency reflected a perceived low risk of illness. Convenience (e.g., cost, distance) showed a weak but non-significant correlation (r = -0.192, P = 0.081). Conclusion: Vaccine hesitancy is shaped by psychosocial and contextual factors. Public health efforts must prioritize restoring trust and addressing risk misperception to improve vaccine uptake. These findings contribute to global strategies for equitable healthcare and informed, community-based immunization programs.
Keywords: Health Systems and Universal Health Coverage (UHC), vaccine hesitancy, pentavalent vaccine, Filipino mothers, 3C model, public health, confidence, convenience, complacency
