Abstract
Abstract Backgrounds In Lithuania, the morbidity rate of meningococcal infection (MI) is one of the highest in the European Union. In year 2017 - 81 MI cases were reported (2.9 cases / 100 thousand inhabitants). The aim of the study - to assess the links between awareness of parents of pre-school children about meningococcal infection and behavior related to vaccination. Methods Anonymous questionnaire survey was carried out in pre-school educational institutions of Kaunas city in 2019. 165 questionnaires were presented to parents (response rate 91.52%). Associations between categorical variables were measured using Chi square test. A statistically significant difference was defined when p < 0.05. Z criterion was used for evaluating hypothesis of variable dependence. Results 55.0% of respondents know that MI is caused by bacteria and it is spread by air (84.8%). 40.1% of parents indicated that they have vaccinated their children or are planning to do so. 38.0% of respondents chose not to have their children vaccinated and did not plan vaccination in the future. Answers of parents, who have vaccinated or are planning vaccination of their children, showed a statistically significant increase of awareness of the risk of MI spreading by air (44.4% and 0.0%, p < 0.05) and that in order to avoid the risk of MI (42.3% and 0.0%, p < 0.05) children need to be vaccinated following recommended vaccination plan (53.4% and 25.0%, p < 0.05), as well that in Lithuania MI vaccine has been included in the recommended vaccination plan in 2018 (43.7% and 12.5%, p < 0.05). Conclusions More than half of the respondents know the pathogen of the MI, the way of it spreading, but less than half of them have vaccinated or are planning to vaccinate their children. Links have been identified between the vaccination of children and awareness of the ways of MI spreading and prevention of it. Key messages The behavior of parents with better awareness is related to decision of vaccination. Parents with better awareness have vaccinated or are planning to vaccinate their children from MI.
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