Vaccination Adherence Among Parents of Preschool-Aged Children

BACKGROUND: Nonadherence to vaccination in the general population poses a major obstacle to achieving epidemiological well-being.

AIM: To assess vaccination adherence among parents of preschool-aged children in selected cities in Russia and Belarus.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using an anonymous online survey administered to parents whose children attended preschool institutions in Almetyevsk, Kazan, Makhachkala, Nizhny Novgorod, and Rybnoye in Russia and Gomel in Belarus. The questionnaire included 16 items with single or multiple response options. Overall, 801 participants were surveyed. Statistical analysis was performed using R 4.3.1 (RStudio). Proportions with 95% confidence intervals and standard errors (P ± p) were calculated. The independent-sample t-test was used for normally distributed variables and the Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis test for asymmetrically distributed variables.

RESULTS: A positive attitude toward vaccination was reported by 76.2 ± 11.7% of respondents (range across cities: 56%–91%). The main motivations for vaccinating children were protection against serious infections (68.8% ± 7.3%), concern about access to educational institutions (16.2% ± 9.6%), and recommendations from healthcare providers (9.1% ± 5.8%). Negative attitudes were identified in some parents, including fear of adverse reactions (13.5%), concerns about vaccine safety (8.3%), and the belief that children should only be vaccinated against the most dangerous diseases (9.1%). Furthermore, 47.6% of the respondents expressed interest in receiving additional information about vaccination. The preferred sources of information were consultations with pediatricians (78.3%), printed educational materials (28.3%), dedicated websites (23.2%), lectures on clinic websites (17.2%), and hotline consultations (15%). Only 11.9% of the respondents favored information obtained through social media.

CONCLUSION: Some parents of preschool-aged children in Russia and Belarus demonstrate negative attitudes toward vaccination. Parents show a strong willingness to receive information from healthcare professionals.