Introduction

There is a global call to achieve more than 90% coverage of all vaccines available through the national immunization programmes of individual countries by 2020 [1]. However, there is an increasing concern about vaccine hesitancy defined as “delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccinations services” [2]. Vaccine refusal or hesitancy is likely to contribute to major public health as well as economic consequences [3]. Sri Lanka has a very high vaccine coverage approaching 99% for most infectious diseases according to the WHO vaccine-preventable diseases [4].

Anecdotal stories of vaccine refusal are being reported from Sri Lanka. Lack of scientific knowledge regarding vaccination makes parents of young children vulnerable for misinformation and disbeliefs that may promote them to refuse vaccination for their children [5].

Main text

This study was conducted with the objective of identifying the level of understanding among parents about childhood vaccination. Ethical Clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya and informed written consent was taken from the participants.

A pre-validated interviewer administered questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge, attitudes, practices and concerns among 141 parents presenting with children to the well-baby clinic at Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya from September to November 2017. Data thus collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t and X2 tests with Odds ratios as applicable.

Majority (120, 85.1%) of the participants were mothers accompanying babies and the mean age of all participants was 28.9 years (SD 5.5 years) (Table 1).

Table 1 Demographic characteristics of the study participants
Full size table

Majority of the participants (127, 90.1%) thought that vaccinating their children is very important. The major motivation for parents to vaccinate children was their understanding that vaccination prevents serious disability (139, 98.6%). Other factors that contributed as factors promoting parents to take children for vaccination included need to be compliant with routine practice of Sri Lanka (23, 16.3%), free availability (11, 7.8%), fear of social isolation (11, 7.8%), and persuasion by the health authorities (7, 5%).

Majority of participants believed that children of both genders need to be vaccinated with equal priority (132, 93.6%). Nearly 70% (n = 101) believed that vaccinating a child is important for the health of the community while a similar number (n = 99, 70.25) also believed that vaccinating against uncommon diseases is also important.

Participants identified that midwives (135, 95.7%), doctors (97, 68.8%), books (110, 78.0%), TV (100, 70.9%), relatives (105, 74.5%) and online material (22, 16.6%) as modes of acquiring information about vaccination. Table 2 summarizes the key areas assessed and their responses to the statements.

Table 2 Parental knowledge on vaccination
Full size table

A knowledge score was calculated considering 30 questions assessing the level of knowledge. Marks ranged from 5 to 24 with an average of 15 (SD 3.6). This made 62 (44.0%) of the participants to have above average, 13 (9.2%) to have average and 66 (46.8%) to have below average knowledge. More mothers had average (69, 57.5%) or above marks than fathers (6, 28.6%) and those who were educated up to A/L or above had a significantly higher proportion of above average marks (48, 64.9%) than those who were educated up to O/L or below (27, 40.3%) (Table 3). Employment status of the parent, having more children, income status and ethnicity had no significant association with the knowledge score.

Table 3 Factors associated with knowledge regarding immunization
Full size table

Two participants acknowledged that they had delayed at least one vaccine. No one stated that he/she plans to delay MMR vaccine while one stated possible delaying of the JE vaccine. One person stated that he/she had not given one vaccine to a child but declined to give the reason while one person stated that he/she delayed a vaccine dose due to an employment related issue.

Five (3.5%) participants stated that they were not in favour of vaccination despite bringing their children to get vaccinated. Four of them believed vaccines have more harmful effects than benefits, one stated that previous unpleasant experience of vaccination contributed to this view, two of them thought vaccination is not important for the health of children and one stated that their socio-cultural background does not favour vaccination. However, two of the five acknowledged that they did not have sufficient knowledge to make an informed decision about vaccination. Furthermore, 37 (26.2%) believed that it is better for their children to develop immunity by natural disease. Of the five participants who stated that they were not in favour of vaccination, two were males (fathers) and three were females (mothers), two of the five were Muslims while three were Sinhalese. One of these five was a graduate while two each had studied up to A/Ls and O/Ls. Income wise, two participants were from families with > 50,000 Rs monthly income, one from a family with an income between 25,000 and 50,000 Rs and two were from families with income < 25,000 Rs. Globally, vaccine hesitancy is known to be associated with difference factors such as affluence, religious and cultural beliefs [6, 7]. Our results demonstrate that those who expressed concerns were coming from diverse backgrounds. A qualitative study would shed more light into the exact factors that contribute to the development of vaccine hesitancy. These are likely to be different from those found in Western, developed countries.

Nine stated that they would not promote vaccination to others. However, a vast majority (131, 92.9%) believed that the EPI programme has been extremely useful to their children’s health.

Despite the small sample size, our findings indicate that knowledge regarding the childhood immunization programme of Sri Lanka and generally on vaccination among parents can be improved. Our findings highlight the need to involve both parents in such educational programmes and the need to target them at the level of understanding of the parents. The sources of information identified in this study indicates that medical professionals need to be more engaging in this despite their busy schedules at vaccination clinics.

The findings also highlight that even this sample of parents who had brought their children for vaccination have misconceptions about immunization. This number is likely to be commoner in the community level and is a reason for to be concerned. Lack of knowledge is one factor that contributes to vaccine hesitancy [7]. Further, this leaves parents vulnerable for mis-information given by anti-vaccine movements. Exposure to anti vaccine movement is shown to be associated with a reduced intention for vaccination [8]. Our findings further highlight that even in countries with high vaccine coverage, population is vulnerable to the potential influence of anti-vaccine movement, due to lack of proper understanding on vaccination and that timely, target specific educational programmes are a need of the hour.

Limitations

This study was conducted using a small sample of 141 parents. The questionnaire used was developed for this study and the analysis method used was custom developed. However, similar approaches have been taken for other studies assessing knowledge scores. This needs to be extended to include higher number of parents representing both genders and all ethnicities in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, we did not assess in depth, the reasons for not being in favour of vaccination. A qualitative approach would be better suited for this. This study was conducted among parents who brought their children for vaccination, and should be extended to the community where the rates for vaccine hesitancy may be higher.