Knowledge, attitude and practice of families of 12-60 months-old-children on vaccines

This descriptive study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of families regarding immunization of 12-60 month-old children. The sample of the research included 218 families admitted to the General Pediatric Outpatient Clinic of Istanbul Medical Faculty Hospital. The data were collected by face to face interviews through a questionnaire based on the literature review. According to the findings; 87,6% of families considered that vaccines were necessary for their children. Among all families, 99,1% reported that their children were vaccinated, 93,1% never delayed the vaccination, and 96,3% stated that their children were fully immunized. Most of the parents (%97,7) admitted that being immunized protect their children's health. Hygiene (39,9%) was reported as the most common way to protect against contagious diseases. 62,8% of families knew vaccines in the national program; 3,2% knew vaccines, not in the program; 51,4% knew the vaccine-preventable diseases. Of all families, 29,4% mentioned measles as the vaccine-preventable disease. 74,1% knew the vaccine-preventable diseases and the vaccines. As maternal education increased knowledge about vaccine-preventable diseases also increased. Only 44,5% of families reported the first vaccine applied at birth. 40,8% of families stated that immunization was completed at age 2. 29,8% of families were vaccinated their children with paid vaccines; 80,3% of families stated that they will vaccinate their children if they were informed about. Maternal educational level, maternal employment status, and being informed increased vaccination rates of vaccines not in the national program. According to the findings, families have a lack of knowledge regarding vaccines and healthcare workers were important as a source of information and to develop an attitude toward immunization. Key Words: Vaccines, Knowledge, Attitude, Family, Child