Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

Parental attitudes regarding influenza vaccine for their children

15^th Annual Summit on Vaccines and Immunization

February 20-21, 2017 Berlin, Germany

Keren Grinberg

Ruppin Academic Center, Israel

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Vaccines Vaccin

Abstract:

Introduction: In Israel, as in other developed countries, annual immunization against influenza (flu) is recommended for the population. Yet, vaccination rates have remained relatively low, 9% among the population as a whole. Immunization may reduce the incidence of influenza and its complications. Various factors influence parents' intention to vaccinate their children, including parents' attitudes and beliefs of vaccination, their level of knowledge, objective social norms regarding influenza vaccination, and normative beliefs and sociodemographic variables. No studies were found to have examined individuals' subjective perception of social norms regarding influenza vaccination. Aim: The purpose of the study is to examine whether the model based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) succeeds in predicting parental intention to vaccinate their children's against the influenza. Methods: This descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study examined the knowledge, normative beliefs, behavioral beliefs, intentionto- administer influenza vaccines, and self-reported screening behavior of parents to young children. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data for the proposed study. The 42-item questionnaire was developed based on the TRA. Questionnaires were distributed among 120 parents with children under 18 years old. Results: Research findings show that most parents intend to vaccinate their children (Approximately 57%). Behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, and the level of knowledge had a significant positive effect on parents' intention to vaccinate their children. High levels of religiosity were found to negatively affect parents' intention to vaccinate their children. The TRA combined with level of knowledge and level of religiosity succeeds in predicting parents' behavioral intentions regarding vaccinating their children. Conclusions: The findings offer insights that can inform health care providers of strategies to promote vaccination against influenza among parents for young children. Future research should be conducted on factors affecting decisions of parents who indeed vaccinated their children. Medical staff should educate parents regarding the benefits of influenza vaccination and its potential health consequences in order to increase vaccination rates.

Biography :

Keren Grinberg is a Senior Lecturer in the Ruppin Academic Center, Department of Nursing, Israel. Her expertise is in the following research domains: Children's health/inequality between subgroups consumption of health services/health promotion, pain syndromes in women, coping with infertility problem, Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) of pain. In addition, she has experience in the study of medical staff dealing with suspected violence of their patients.

Email: kh090804@walla.com