UNDERSTANDING VACCINATION HESITATION FROM OBSERVATIONS OF FAMILY HEALTH CENTER WORKERS

Abstract

Objective: Family health centers are the first place for healthcare providers and vaccine-hesitant parents who need information. Healthcare providers can play an important role in mitigating vaccine hesitancy by providing accurate information to parents. This study aims to determine the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy or refusal among parents encountered by healthcare workers in family health centers in Kırşehir, and to identify associated factors. Method: The study population consisted of family health workers working in Family Health Centers at the Kırşehir Center (N=101). The data form used in the descriptive study was prepared by the researchers by reviewing the literature. The data were collected by aplying face-to-face question and answer technique during the visits of the researchers to the family health centers. Results: When asked about the rate of vaccine hesitancy/refusal in the past year, 13.2% (n=10) reported that they had encountered it frequently, and 28.9% (n=22) reported that they had encountered it at least once. 61.8% (n=47) of the participants, reported that the socioeconomic level of families experiencing vaccine refusal was high. When the participants met with a parent who refused vaccination, 98.7% (n=75) stated that they would explain the necessity of vaccines and encourage them to receive them, and 1.3% (n=1) stated that they would respect this decision. 84.1% (n=64) stated that the family with vaccine hesitancy/refusal changed their decision after their information they provided. The most common reason given to the participants by families who were undecide or refusal vaccine was objections to the ingredients in the vaccine (mercury, thimerosal, etc.) with rate of 71.1% (n=54). Conclusion: Vaccine ambivalence was found to be against all vaccines and the act of vaccination, not against a specific vaccine. It was observed that when families who were hesitant about vaccination were informed by healthcare proffessionals, their attitudes changed. For this reason, it is important that parents with vaccine hesitancy are adequately and accurately informed about vaccines. It is thought that regular trainings should be organized for both healthcare professionals and families on vaccination in Turkey and the health literacy level of the society should be increased.