Abstract
Background and objectives: Vaccination against bacterial pathogens is decisive for preventing invasive meningococcal disease and pediatricians play a pivotal role in vaccination compliance and coverage. The aim of this study was to investigate awareness, attitude, and practices toward the vaccine against Meningococcal B serogroup (4CMenB) among a sample of Italian pediatricians. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire from March to May 2015. Three multivariate logistic regression models were built to identify factors associated with the outcomes of interest. Results: The data showed that 95.5% of the interviewees correctly responded about the availability of 4CMenB vaccine in Italy, while only 28.0% knew the vaccination schedule for children aged two years or under. This knowledge was significantly higher in younger pediatricians and in those who worked a higher number of hours per week. Pediatricians self-reported a positive attitude toward the utility and safety of 4CMenB vaccine. Those pediatricians with a strong positive attitude toward the utility of the vaccine, who knew the vaccination schedules for children of two years or under, and who declared a satisfactory or good knowledge about the vaccine were more likely to inform parents about its availability in Italy, recommend the vaccination, and verify patients’ vaccination status, in their daily practice. Conclusions: The study highlights factors that currently influence pediatricians’ practices regarding the 4CMenB vaccine. The results showed the possible actions recommended to improve physicians’ awareness and behaviors in order to improve the vaccination compliance and invasive meningococcal diseases prevention.
Highlights
Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a serious public health challenge due to high mortality and morbidity in infants, children, and young adults
In Italy, available epidemiological data show that incidence of IMDs within the age range 0 to 4 years was principally sustained by Meningococcal serotype B (MenB) N. meningitidis, with 62%
More than three-quarters of interviewees (77.8%) had a 20 year-long experience in practice, whereas the proportions of employment settings were divided as 58.5% pediatricians employed in the primary care sector, 20.5% in hospitals, and the remaining 21.0% were private consultant pediatricians
Summary
Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a serious public health challenge due to high mortality and morbidity in infants, children, and young adults. The global burden of the disease is caused by Neisseria meningitidis infection and most of the cases are caused by serogroups A, B, C, W-135, and Y. Meningococcal serotype B (MenB) and C (MenC) are responsible for the majority of cases of meningitis in Europe and in the United States [1,2,3]. Vaccination against the bacterial pathogen is crucial for preventing IMDs. The introduction of the vaccine against MenC and quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY or MCV4). Vaccination against bacterial pathogens is decisive for preventing invasive meningococcal disease and pediatricians play a pivotal role in vaccination compliance and coverage. The aim of this study was to investigate awareness, attitude, and practices toward the vaccine against Meningococcal B serogroup (4CMenB) among a sample of Italian pediatricians
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