Evaluation of vaccination attitudes of family healthworkers

This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of family health personnel working in Gaziantep province regarding vaccination, as well as their encounters with vaccine refusal and hesitancy, and their behaviors when encountered. This descriptive study was conducted between January and May 2025 with 250 family health personnel (nurses, midwives, and emergency medical technicians) working in Family Health Centers selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the "Descriptive Characteristics Information Form" and the "Attitudes Towards Vaccination Scale." According to the study results, 60.8% of participants felt their knowledge about vaccines was sufficient, and 32.8% reported knowing their vaccine composition. 95.6% of participants reported receiving vaccines other than childhood vaccinations, and 96% had received the COVID-19 vaccine. It was determined that 95.2% of participants considered childhood vaccinations necessary, 40.4% believed they should definitely be vaccinated, and 20.8% were somewhat hesitant about vaccinations. The mean scale score of the participants was 57.82±8.25, and 83.2% had a positive attitude. Ninety-two percent of participants reported encountering vaccine hesitancy, 90.8% reported encountering vaccine refusal, and only 35.2% considered themselves competent to cope with this situation. When faced with vaccine refusal, 68.4% responded with "I educate/inform." Furthermore, 98% of participants believed that anti-vaccine news spread on social media influenced parents' decisions to vaccinate. Consequently, it was determined that family health personnel's general attitudes and behaviors toward vaccinations were positive, while they lacked knowledge about vaccines and were unable to cope with vaccine refusal/hesitation. In line with the findings, it is recommended that in-service training be expanded for family health personnel on vaccines and combating vaccine refusal, public awareness efforts be increased, and policies against vaccination be developed.