Ouzounidou Z, Maltezou H C, Chrysoula K, Polysiou E, Christofilea O, Dounias G, Pavli A
Regional Department of Public Health of Cyclades, Greece.
Directorate of Research, Studies, and Documentation, National Public Health Organization, Athens, Greece.
J Migr Health. 2024 Feb 27;9:100219. doi: 10.1016/j.jmh.2024.100219. eCollection 2024.
The number of migrants to Greece has increased considerably the last decade. This study assessed the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare personnel (HCP) toward vaccination of newly-arrived children and adolescents in the Aegean islands, a major port of entry of migrants and refugees to Europe.
The study was conducted from September 2020 to January 2021. All (166) HCP employed in the public health sector of the Aegean islands were invited to participate. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and data about their knowledge and attitudes toward vaccinations for migrant and refugees.
A total of 120 HCP participated (72 % response rate), including 54 (45 %) physicians, 43 nurses (35.8 %), and 23 health visitors (19.2 %). Sixty-seven (55.8 %) HCP were aware of the national vaccination guidelines. Health visitors had higher rates of knowledge about the national vaccination guidelines, compared with nurses and physicians (87% versus 44,2% and 51,9%; p-value-0.001). Overall, 73 (60.8 %) HCP were aware of vaccinations during the first examination upon arrival. Primary-healthcare physicians were more likely to be aware about the time of vaccine administration compared with hospital-based physicians (74 % versus 50 %; p-value = 0.006). Out of 120 HCP, 45 % knew that vaccination guidelines apply to all newly-arrived migrant and refugees and 65 % that vaccinations are free-of-charge. Overall, 67.5 % of participants supported no serology testing before vaccination, 21.8 % were against free-of-charge vaccinations, and 55 % recommended only priority vaccinations.
There is a need to increase HCP' awareness and knowledge through training programs and tailored protocols focusing on vaccinations for newly-arrived migrant and refugee children and adolescents in order to promote effective vaccination of this vulnerable population.
在过去十年中，前往希腊的移民数量大幅增加。本研究评估了医护人员（HCP）对爱琴海诸岛新抵达儿童和青少年疫苗接种的知识和态度，爱琴海诸岛是移民和难民进入欧洲的主要入境口岸。
该研究于2020年9月至2021年1月进行。邀请了爱琴海诸岛公共卫生部门雇佣的所有166名医护人员参与。使用结构化问卷收集人口统计学数据以及他们对移民和难民疫苗接种的知识和态度数据。
共有120名医护人员参与（回复率72%），包括54名（45%）医生、43名护士（35.8%）和23名健康访视员（19.2%）。67名（55.8%）医护人员知晓国家疫苗接种指南。与护士和医生相比，健康访视员对国家疫苗接种指南的知晓率更高（87%对44.2%和51.9%；p值=0.001）。总体而言，73名（60.8%）医护人员知晓抵达后首次检查时的疫苗接种情况。与医院医生相比，初级保健医生更有可能知晓疫苗接种时间（74%对50%；p值=0.006）。在120名医护人员中，45%知道疫苗接种指南适用于所有新抵达的移民和难民，65%知道疫苗接种是免费的。总体而言，67.5%的参与者支持在接种疫苗前不进行血清学检测，21.8%反对免费接种疫苗，55%仅推荐优先接种疫苗。
有必要通过培训项目和针对新抵达的移民和难民儿童及青少年疫苗接种的定制方案来提高医护人员的意识和知识，以促进对这一弱势群体的有效疫苗接种。
