An Investigation of Pregnant Women's Attitudes Towards Childhood Vaccination and Trust in Health Services.

BACKGROUND

Vaccination of children is of great importance for their healthy growth and development. Several concerns that have been mentioned by families due to various reasons could affect vaccination acceptance.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to investigate pregnant women's attitudes toward childhood vaccinations and trust in health services.

METHODS

This study was designed as a descriptive study. It was conducted in a city located in the eastern part of Turkey between March and May 2019. The sample was 193 volunteer pregnant women. Data were collected using the Socio-demographic Form, the Multidimensional Trust in Health-care System Scale, and the Public Attitude toward Vaccination Scale - Health Belief Model.

RESULTS

A positive, statistically significant relationship was found between the Multidimensional Trust in Healthcare System Scale total mean score and Perceived Susceptibility, Perceived Severity, Perceived Benefits, and Health Responsibility (p < .01). In addition, education and income level, having social security, having had a vaccination or not, and knowing vaccines affected trusts in health services; having social security, having had vaccinations or not, and knowing vaccines affected health beliefs about vaccinations (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE

This study found that knowing vaccines affects both trust in health services and health beliefs about vaccination. Therefore, community health nurses working in primary care should provide parents with accurate and effective information about vaccinations.