[Evaluation of knowledge and behavior of parents about vaccination of their under 6 year-old children in Zahedan]

ABSTRACT

Immunization is the most efficacious and cost effective intervention available to improve the health and wellbeing of children and prevention of infectious disease.The goal of this research was the determination of knowledge and behavior of parents about vaccination of under 6 year-old children in Zahedan. This study was descriptive analytic. The sample size was 1066 persons [father or mother] and the data was collected with a questionnaire containing parents' specifications [gender, age and education level]. The collected data was analyzed with Chi-square test.rom 1066 persons 756 persons [70.9%] had moderate knowledge, and 159 persons [14.9%] had low knowledge about vaccination. 844 persons [79.2%] had performed complete and 222 persons [20.5%] incomplete vaccination for their children. In this study we found significant relation between knowledge and age, as well as educational level and information source of parents [p<0.001]. The relationship between parent's behavior about vaccination and her age [p=0.2], and her education level [p=0.1] was not significant, but relationship between parents behavior and information source was significant [p=0.007]. Parents' information source was Radio, TV, journals, books and newspapers, friends, physicians and health care workers.Parents' knowledge about vaccination is an important factor in prevention of infectious diseases, so it will be rewarding to work on increasing parents' knowledge about vaccination by any available means