Article Text
Abstract
The Polish schedule of vaccination consists of obligatory and recommended vaccinations: pentavalent and hexavalent against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae and hepatitis B, pneumococci, meningococci, human papillomavirus, varicella and hepatitis A. The aim of the study was to estimate the general knowledge and attitude of parents concerning recommended vaccines.
Material and Methods The survey was performed among patients of four private outpatient paediatric clinics in Warsaw. The questionnaire was previously validated (Kappa statistics 0.6). The survey was fulfilled by trained pollsters. 95 parents participated in the survey (78 women and 17 men). The average age of a parent was 34 years (SD 5.4).
Results 81% parents obtained recommended vaccines for their children. The general reason for taking recommended polyvalent vaccines was the wish to decrease the number of injections (66%). Among recommended monovalent vaccines, the most commonly chosen were those against: pneumococci (36%), hepatitis A (26%), varicella (23%), flu (22%) and meningococci infections (21%). The main source of knowledge about vaccines was doctors (78%, the only source and an additional source). Other sources were declared only together with others: media (36%), friends and family (21%), internet (20%). Most parents (57%) declared that doctors answered the questions asked by parents; only 43% observed that a doctor initiated this topic.
Conclusions Most parents of investigated private paediatric clinics decided to give their children the recommended vaccines. The main source of knowledge about vaccines is a doctor. The topic of vaccinations should be more often initiated by doctors.