Evaluation of the Knowledge and Attitudes of Families Regarding Vaccinations in Children Aged One Month to Five Years Old Followed for Chronic Illnesses
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Abstract
Objective: We aimed to assess the compliance of families of children diagnosed with chronic illnesses with the national vaccination schedule, their knowledge and application rates of special vaccines outside routine immunizations, and the reasons for any missing vaccinations.
Materials and Methods: Mothers of children aged one month to five years who are being followed and treated for chronic illnesses and who were brought to the hospital for any reason were included in the study. The study survey was administered face-to-face to mothers who met the criteria. The NCSS (Number Cruncher Statistical System) 2020 (Kaysville, Utah, USA) program was used for statistical analyses.
Results: Our study was conducted with the mothers of 150 children who are being followed for chronic illnesses. It was found that 86.7% of the mothers had their children vaccinated on time, 10% had overdue vaccinations, 1.3% had no information about vaccinations, and 2% did not vaccinate their children. Among the reasons for incomplete vaccinations, 9.3% of the mothers stated that they could not find the time, 2.7% expressed fear of side effects, 0.7% feared their children might get other illnesses, and 0.7% cited lack of information. It was observed that 62% of the mothers knew the names of special vaccines, but 86% had not administered them. The reasons for not administering special vaccines were as follows: 44.7% lacked information, 23.3% did not find them necessary, and 9.3% considered them too expensive. Despite the high vaccination rates, 61.3% of the mothers agreed with the statement, "I am afraid my child will experience side effects from the vaccine."
Conclusion: In our study, the rate of children with complete vaccinations was limited to 86.7%, and the reasons were frequent visits to healthcare facilities due to chronic illness, lack of time due to hospital admissions, and fear of vaccine side effects. It is essential to closely monitor the vaccination schedules of these children in primary care, with frequent reminders for upcoming vaccines. Families should be informed about vaccines, and vaccinations should be questioned during hospital visits, with guidance provided to address any gaps.
