1459 Parental Intention to Have Children Vaccinated with H1N1 Vaccine. A Comparative Study in the Multicultural Area of North Evros

Abstract

Background: The goal of this study was to ascertain parental intentions to vaccinate their children with an H1N1 vaccine and to compare factors that may influence positive attitudes.

Methods: An anonymous targeted survey was conducted among 453 parents by means of a written structured questionnaire that contained assessments of : parental age, demographic data, religious culture and levels of informed knowledge of the H1N1 vaccination by physicians, friends and the media. The survey was conducted in Didimoteicho from 1-6-2009 until 1-12-2009, before children's vaccination against H1N1 started in our country. Data collected was manipulated by Windows SPSS 14.0 Software package to calculate odds ratios (OR).

Results: Christians are less likely to have their children vaccinated than Musulmans (OR 3, 6). The vaccination intention is positively affected by parent's basic information by the media (OR 4, 3), and by their family physicians recommendation (OR 2, 3) in comparison with hospital health professionals. Parental intention to vaccinate their children is not affected by age (OR 0, 8). 98% of Christians state “they wont' do it”, 90% of Musulmans “will consider about it” and a small percentage of 1, 6%, all Musulmans Roma “intend to do it”.

Conclusions: Parents showed considerable scepticism to have their children receive the pandemic influenza vaccination, despite our hospital strong recommendation policy. Reluctances were equally attributed to reservations about the vaccine's safety as well as its necessity and efficacy.

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