PROCJENA INFORMIRANOSTI I SKLONOST RUTINSKOJ VAKCINACIJI DJECE KOD TRUDNICA I OPĆE POPULACIJE
ASSESSMENT OF AWARENESS AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS ROUTINE CHILD VACCINATION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN AND THE GENERAL POPULATION

Summary/Abstract: The issue of vaccination is becoming increasingly controversial, and growing doubts can have a serious impact on children's health. Forms of parental resistance to vaccination vary and range from uncertainty, indecision, hesitancy, and delays in vaccination, to active opposition. The aim of this study is to examine the level of awareness and inclination toward routine vaccination among the general population and pregnant women regarding vaccines and childhood immunization through the mandatory vaccination program. The study included 209 respondents from the general population and 196 pregnant women. A significant percentage of participants from both groups expressed not only negative attitudes toward vaccines and vaccination but also uncertainty and lack of knowledge about them. Regarding vaccine safety and production, 15.8% of pregnant women held a negative attitude and 33.7% a neutral one, while in the general population, 9.6% had a negative attitude and 43.5% a neutral one. The anti-vaccination movement triggers considerable indecision, as well as concern and fear in both groups of respondents, with indecision being more prominent. Among the general population respondents who believed that there are too many vaccines in the mandatory vaccination schedule, 38.3% shared this view, with a higher percentage among those who already have children (62.5%). Among pregnant women, 35.2% held the same opinion, with a higher percentage among multiparas (65.2%). Considering that attitudes about childhood vaccination are mostly formed during the prenatal period, while the mother is pregnant, it is therefore crucial to understand the causes and context that lead to hesitancy and vaccine refusal so that interventions can be tailored specifically to address the particular issue. A large percentage of respondents believe that the media has a significant influence on vaccination attitudes, so it is important to engage in dialogue with parents, educate them, provide clear, evidence-based information, and demystify any uncertainties they may have about vaccines, so that parents do not seek information on the internet due to a lack of knowledge, where it is often inaccurate.

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