Knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers regarding immunization

  • Authors

    • Shoaib Ali The Children Hospital, Lahore
    • Mubina Ifat THQ Thal Hospital, Layyah
    • Javeria Amin Fatima Jinnah Medical University , Lahore
    • Samia Jamil King Edward Medical University, Lahore
    • Sahira Aaraj King Edward Medical University, Lahore
    • Hamza Naeem king Edward Medical University, Lahore
    • Saba Javed Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore
    • Shahida Nazir Siddiqui King Edward Medical University, Lahore
    • Hamza Saeed Khokhar King Edward Medical University, Lahore
    • Sarmad Zahoor King Edward Medical University, Lahore
    2022-06-07
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijm.v10i1.32032
  • Mothers, Immunization, Knowledge, Attitude, Good Practices.

  • Abstract

    Introduction: Immunization strengthens the defense mechanism of the body and offers protection against potential diseases. The rate of immunization is one of the best measures of public health management and quality. To increase the rate of immunization, parental decisions about vaccinations are very necessary. Parents' knowledge and attitude towards immunization influence the prevalence of infectious diseases. Moreover, vaccination is considered one of the most cost-effective public health tools to prevent infectious diseases.

    Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the frequency of adequate knowledge, positive attitude and good practices of mothers regarding immunization.

    Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study which was conducted in The Children's Hospital & Child Health Institute, Lahore. A total of 125 children who met the selection criteria were enrolled. Parents were then questioned and validated by vaccination card status regarding various Expanded Immunization Policy (EPI) vaccinations and complete previous records. The awareness and attitude of mothers regarding vaccination was also considered that either they were aware of the vaccination status or not. All the data was collected and reported in the form of a questionnaire.

    Results: In this study93 mothers had a good understanding, 77 mothers had a good practice, and 66 mothers had a positive attitude towards immunization. Childs’ gender, mothers’ educational status, socio-economic status, good practice, and positive attitude had no significant impact on adequate knowledge about vaccination.

    Conclusion: It was concluded from this study that mothers’ knowledge about immunization was adequate, however good practice and positive attitude were not up to the mark.

     

     

  • References

    1. [1] Alabadi M, Aldawood Z. Parents’ Knowledge, Attitude and Perceptions on Childhood Vaccination in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Literature Review. Vaccines. 2020 Dec;8(4):750. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8040750.

      [2] Nisar N, Mirza M, Qadri MH. Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of mothers regarding immunization of one year old child at Mawatch Goth, Kemari Town, Karachi. Pak J Med Sci. 2010 Jan 1; 26(1):183-6.

      [3] Shah M, Khan MK, Shakeel S, Mahmood F, Sher Z, Sarwar MB, Sumrin A. Resistance of polio to its eradication in Pakistan. Virology journal. 2011 Dec;8(1):1-6. https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-422X-8-457.

      [4] Adefolalu OA, Kanma-Okafor OJ, Balogun MR. Maternal knowledge, attitude and compliance regarding immunization of under five children in Primary Health Care centres in Ikorodu Local Government Area, Lagos State. Journal of Clinical Sciences. 2019 Jan 1;16(1):7. https://doi.org/10.4103/jcls.jcls_55_18.

      [5] Al-Lela OQ, Bahari MB, Al-Qazaz HK, Salih MR, Jamshed SQ, Elkalmi RM. Are parents' knowledge and practice regarding immunization related to pediatrics’ immunization compliance? a mixed method study. BMC pediatrics. 2014 Dec; 14(1):1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-14-29.

      [6] McWha L, MacArthur A, Badiani T, Schouten H, Tam T, King A. Measuring up: results from the National Immunization Coverage Survey, 2002. Canada communicable disease report= Releve des maladies transmissibles au Canada. 2004 Mar 1; 30(5):37-50.

      [7] Jheeta M, Newell J. Childhood vaccination in Africa and Asia: the effects of parents’ knowledge and attitudes. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2008 Jun; 86(6):419. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.07.047159.

      [8] Siddiqi N, Siddiqi AA, Nisar N, Khan A. Mothers' knowledge about EPI and its relation with age-appropriate vaccination of infants in peri-urban Karachi. JPMA-Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association. 2010 Nov 1;60(11):940.

      [9] Kimmel SR Burns IT, Wolfe RM, Zimmerman RK. Addressing immunization barriers, benefits, and risks. Journal of Family Practice. 2007 Feb 1; 56(2):S61-.

      [10] Ramadan HA, Soliman SM, El-kader RGA. Knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers toward children's obligatory vaccination. Journal of Nursing and Health Science 2016;5(4):22-8. https://doi.org/10.9790/1959-0504022228.

      [11] Naeem M, Adil M, Abbas SH, Khan A, Khan MU, Naz SM. Coverage and causes of non-immunization in national immunization days for polio; A consumer and provider perspective study in Peshawar. Journal of Postgraduate Medical Institute (Peshawar-Pakistan). 2012; 26(1).

      [12] Yousif M, Albarraq A, Abdallah M, Elbur A. Parents’ knowledge and attitudes on childhood immunization, Taif, Saudi Arabia. J Vaccines Vaccin. 2013 Dec; 5(215):2.

      [13] Borràs E, Domínguez À, Fuentes M, Batalla J, Cardeñosa N, Plasencia A. Parental knowledge of paediatric vaccination. BMC Public Health. 2009 Dec; 9(1):1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-9-154.

      [14] Papazoglou A, Giamaiou K, Poulopoulou S, Pavlopoulou I, Tsoumakas K. The national vaccination programme in greece: Factors affecting parents’ knowledge. Global Journal of Medical Research Interdisciplinary. 2013; 13(3).

      [15] Bofarraj MA. Knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers regarding immunization of infants and preschool children at Al-Beida City, Libya 2008. Egyptian Journal of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (The). 2011; 9(1).

      [16] Ritvo P, Irvine J, Klar N, Wilson K, Brown L, Bremner KE, Rinfret A, Remis R, Krahn MD. A Canadian national survey of attitudes and knowledge regarding preventive vaccines. Journal of Immune Based Therapies and Vaccines. 2003 Dec; 1(1):1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-8518-1-3.

      [17] Sporton RK, Francis SA. Choosing not to immunize: are parents making informed decisions?. Family Practice. 2001 Apr 1; 18(2):181-8. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/18.2.181.

      [18] Falagas ME, Zarkadoulia E. Factors associated with suboptimal compliance to vaccinations in children in developed countries: a systematic review. Current medical research and opinion. 2008 Jun 1; 24(6):1719-41. https://doi.org/10.1185/03007990802085692.

      [19] Austin H, Campion-Smith C, Thomas S, Ward W. Parents' difficulties with decisions about childhood immunization. Community Practitioner. 2008 Oct 1; 81(10):32-6.

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Ali, S., Ifat, M., Amin, J., Jamil, S., Aaraj, S., Naeem, H., Javed, S., Nazir Siddiqui, S., Saeed Khokhar, H., & Zahoor, S. (2022). Knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers regarding immunization. International Journal of Medicine, 10(1), 3-6. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijm.v10i1.32032

    Received date: 2022-03-23

    Accepted date: 2022-04-30

    Published date: 2022-06-07