The effect of training on childhood vaccines given to expectant mothers on vaccine hesitation and vaccine literacy: a randomised controlled experimental study

This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of the face-to-face education intervention supported by the "Education Guide for Hesitations in Childhood Vaccines" given by the researcher to expectant mothers during pregnancy on vaccine hesitancy and vaccine literacy. The study was conducted in a Family Health Center (FHC) in a province in the east of Turkey between 12.06.2024-19.12.2024 as a pretest/posttest randomized control group experimental study. The population of the study consisted of pregnant women who fit the characteristics of the universe among the pregnant women affiliated to the FHC with the largest pregnant population in the provincial center between August 2024 and October 2024. In the G*Power analysis, it was determined that 80 pregnant women would be sufficient and the study was completed with the participation of 85 pregnant women. Participants were divided into two groups by random sampling method. The experimental group (S=42) and the control group (S=43) consisted of pregnant women. Pregnant women in the experimental group were administered the intervention with the prepared educational material. The data collection tools included a pregnant woman information form, the Vaccine Hesitation 5-point Likert Scale (VAS) and the Vaccine Literacy Scale for Childhood Vaccines (VLS). Scientific ethical principles were adhered to at all stages of the study. It was determined that the experimental and control groups were similar in terms of descriptive characteristics. It was found that the VAS scores of the experimental and control groups were similar before the intervention, and there was an increase in favor of the experimental group in the post-intervention control test and post-test, and this constituted a statistical difference (p<0.001). It was found that the VLS scores of the experimental and control groups were similar before the intervention, and there was an increase in the experimental group in the control test and post-test after the intervention, and this situation constituted a statistical difference (p<0.001). It was determined that the intervention increased the level of vaccine literacy in expectant mothers and decreased the level of vaccine hesitancy. It can be ensured that the dissemination of trainings to eliminate the hesitations of pregnant women, who are the mothers of the future, towards childhood vaccines can both provide peace of mind by eliminating the hesitation of mothers and prevent the deprivation of vaccines within the scope of protecting the health of the child, which is the most fundamental right of the child.