Parental knowledge and attitudes towards vaccination of children under 18 years of age

Abstract

Background: Preventive vaccinations are the essence for the protection of humanity against the consequences of infectious diseases. They shape “herd” immunity if the entire population prevent disease incidence, morbidity. This ultimately reduces the number and severity of complications and death in the human population. Effective and active immunization of children and young people depends strongly on society’s level of knowledge about preventive vaccinations. Objectives: The study’s main objective was to evaluate the level of parental knowledge and attitudes towards preventive vaccinations in children and teens as well as the identification of factors determining the attitudes of parents towards the obligation to conduct preventive vaccinations in children and teens under 18 years of age. Material and methods: The research group consisted of 170 parents. A diagnostic survey and questionnaire technique was used with the use of the author’s original questionnaire. The survey questionnaire consisted of 27 questions. Results: Most parents had an average level of knowledge (n=136; 79.5%) about preventive vaccinations. It was noticed that the higher the level of parental knowledge about preventive vaccinations, the more often they deemed vaccinations necessary. The level of parental knowledge about preventive vaccinations does not depend on their age or education but rather their domicile location. Parental education, as well as domicile, did not significantly influence their attitudes towards the obligation of preventive vaccinations. Conclusions: Parental knowledge about preventive vaccinations is on an average level. The relation between the parents’ opinions about mandatory immunization in Poland and their knowledge in this field was not noticed. The level of parental knowledge about mandatory immunization was not statistically significant or dependent on age and education. More often than men, women claimed that the vaccination schedule effectively stabilizes and positively influences the epidemiological situation in Poland.