COMPARISON OF PARENTAL ATTITUDES ON CHILD VACCINATION WITH REGARD TO MEDICAL EDUCATION

Abstract

Objective: Examine the attitudes of parents towards vaccination of children as well as the reasons for any negative attitude. In doing so, to determine whether there are differences in attitudes depending on formal medical education.

Subjects and Methods: Data were collected from 100 participants at the Srebrnjak Children's Hospital via an anonymous questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of 14 questions that include some relevant parameters such as the age of the parents, number of children, education, previous experience with vaccines, etc. The data were processed using the χ2 test, with a significance level of p<0.01.

Results: Data processing determined that in the sample examined, which was divided into those with and those without medical education, there was a significant difference in terms of information about vaccination and the source of this information. The results show that parents with medical education are significantly better informed than parents without medical education. Regarding the influence of the media, a significant difference was found, with those with medical education being less susceptible to media influence regarding child vaccination. There was no significant difference according to the level of education, place of residence, number of children in the family, frequency of vaccination and occurrence of vaccination complications, reasons for negative attitude, or experience of other parents.

Conclusion: Medically educated parents have greater knowledge about vaccines and possible complications of vaccination, consult professionals more often, and are less susceptible to media influence, but regardless, they are equally skeptical about the benefits of vaccinating their children.