Parents' Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Vaccinating Their Children

Parents' knowledge and attitudes towards vaccinating their children

Introduction Vaccines administered in childhood save 2-3 million lives globally each year. They have contributed substantially to the decline in infant morbidity and mortality rates over time and represent the most cost-effective method of reducing childhood illness.

A high vaccination rate among the population protects both those who have received the vaccine and those who have not, through the phenomenon of herd immunity. Maintaining protection plays an important role in the development of the paediatric population. Early childhood infections can affect the growth and development of children, impacting the health and cognitive abilities of future adults. Although vaccines reduce morbidity and mortality, many parents do not vaccinate their children. In developing countries, the main causes of non-vaccination are low socio-economic status, poor parental education and limited access to medical services. On the other hand, in more developed countries, parents, despite having easy access to vaccines and information, choose not to vaccinate their children.

In order to increase vaccination rates, it is necessary to understand where parents' beliefs come from. Parents' refusal to vaccinate their children has been associated with: the costs involved in the vaccination process, fear of adverse effects, both immediate and long-term, the belief that vaccines are ineffective, and various attitudes. These include: lack of trust in the state authorities responsible for implementing vaccination programmes, religious conflicts, and the idea of over stimulating the child's immune system with "too many vaccines".

Recently, a decisive factor has emerged that influences parents' opinions: social media. Studies conducted to date have shown the impact of anti-vaccine content posted online on the decline in vaccination rates.

Hypothesis: The decline in vaccination rates among the paediatric population is occurring in both developed countries and low socio-economic environments, with parental attitudes being the main decisive factor.

Purpose: To identify and evaluate the factors that influence parents' attitudes towards vaccination.

Objectives:

1. To assess parents' level of knowledge about vaccines
2. To assess parents' attitudes and behavior regarding vaccine administration.
3. To observe whether there is a link between various socio-demographic factors and their knowledge about vaccines.
4. To assess the relationship and communication between doctors and parents.
5. To evaluate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on parents' trust in vaccines.

Research area: research into parents' attitudes and knowledge about vaccines and their interaction with healthcare professionals.

Study type: descriptive, cross-sectional, representative sample study. Target population: parents of children under 18 years of age evaluated at the Emergency Children's Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Paediatrics Clinic III, between January- Sept 2026.

Representative sample data collection

Materials and methods:

Distribution of questionnaires to parents of patients under 18 years of age admitted in the Emergency Children's Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Paediatrics Clinic III. Collection of clinical data by applying questionnaires completed voluntarily by parents. By completing the informed consent form, parents gave their consent to participate in this study.

Clinical data to be recorded: gender, age, place of residence, level of education, profession, age of children, vaccination status of parents and children. Collection of data on: parents' knowledge and attitudes towards vaccines, the doctor-parent relationship and parents' level of trust in doctors, and knowledge about infections. Distribution of questionnaires to family doctors and paediatricians to assess the communication relationship between doctors and parents in the context of vaccines.

Descriptive statistics: Data will be stored in accordance with legal provisions for the protection of patients' identity and personal data. Statistical analysis of the data will be performed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS.

The results and conclusions will be disseminated through the publication of articles in scientific journals.