Does an educational intervention improve parents’ knowledge about immunization? Experience from Malaysia

Abstract

BackgroundParents’ knowledge about immunization is an important predictor factor for their children’s immunization status. The aims of this study were to assess parents’ knowledge and to evaluate the effect of a short educational intervention on improving parents’ knowledge of childhood immunization.MethodsA cross-sectional study using a pre- and post-test intervention survey of a single group was conducted among Malaysian parents. Changes in total knowledge score before and after the intervention were measured using a validated questionnaire. The intervention consisted of an animated movie and lecture using simple understandable language. Wilcoxon signed ranks test and the McNemar x2 test were applied to compare the differences in knowledge before and after the intervention.ResultsSeventy-three parents were enrolled in this study; the majority were mothers (n = 64, 87.7%). Parents’ knowledge about childhood immunization increased significantly after the intervention compared to the baseline results (p < 0.001). There were significant differences between parents’ knowledge and their educational level and monthly income (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005), respectively.ConclusionsA short educational intervention designed for parents had a positive effect on their knowledge about immunization. Educational interventions targeting parents with low levels of education and income are needed. Further studies investigating the actual effectiveness of such interventions on immunization rates and statuses are required.

Childhood Vaccination in Al-Madinah , Saudi Arabia. the Effects of Publicknowledge and Attitudes.

“…In our study the demographic characteristics of the parents showed that the majority of participants were females, this like the results of previous studies (18,19). Indicating that child immunization is mainly under the mother's responsibility, rather than the father's.…”

“…89.4% of our participants thought that it is important to vaccinate children through seasonal vaccinations campaigns. 46.5% of them thought that It is preferred to give the seasonal flu vaccine for children, this results very close to Yousif et al, study (18). 38% of our participants thought that flue, ears inflammations and diarrhea are not vaccination contraindications, while Yousif et al, found that 61.7% thought the same thing (18).…”

“…81.2% of participants thought that multiple doses of the same vaccine at separate intervals can strengthen the child's immunity, this results not conform Yousif et al, study whose found that Only 41.6% of the interviewees correctly knew the importance of administration of multi-doses of the same vaccine given at intervals for child immunity (18). Only 42% thought that giving more than one vaccine at the same time don't cause any harm to the child's immunity.…”

“…Only 42% thought that giving more than one vaccine at the same time don't cause any harm to the child's immunity. this close to Yousif et al, study whose found that 37.1% of their participants knew that the administration of more than one vaccine at the same time have no negative impacts on child immunity (18). However there is no scientific evidence that supports parents' fears about combined vaccines causing immune overload (31).…”

“…Educational interventions targeting parents with low levels of education and income are needed. Further studies investigating the actual effectiveness of such interventions on immunization rates and statuses are required (9) .…”