Parental perception and attitude on childhood immunization and other government healthcare programs after the Dengue vaccine controversy: a hospital-based cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

@#<p><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> The dengue vaccine controversy in the Philippines caused significant public anxiety affecting childhood vaccines, as well as other healthcare programs. An assessment of parental perception and attitude on childhood immunization and other government healthcare programs after the dengue vaccine controversy is lacking</p><p><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> To determine the perception and attitude of parents on childhood immunization and other government health care programs after the dengue vaccine controversy at a tertiary pediatric hospital.</p><p><strong>METHODOLOGY:</strong> A hospital-based cross-sectional survey was done at a tertiary pediatric hospital. A total of 96 subjects participated in the study. Parents with children ages 9 to 18 years old whose child was either vaccinated or non-vaccinated with dengue vaccine seen in the dengue clinic, outpatient department and private clinics were invited to answer the structured questionnaire. Proportional stratified sampling was employed. Mann Whitney U-test compared the perception and attitude scores between parents of children who were recipients and non-recipients of dengue vaccine. A p-value of</p><p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> The overall perception and attitude of parents on childhood immunization, deworming and vitamin A supplementation did not differ significantly between parents of non-dengue vaccinated children and dengue-vaccinated children. Sociodemographic factors such as gender, marital status, educational attainment, employment, and economic status did not differ significantly in their perception and attitude in terms of childhood immunization, deworming and vitamin A supplementation.</p><p><strong>CONCLUSIONS:</strong> The overall perception and attitude of parents in both groups showed no significant difference toward childhood immunization, deworming and vitamin A supplementation. There is no association with the overall perception and attitude of parents on childhood immunization, deworming and vitamin A supplementation and their sociodemographic factors. RECOMMENDATIONS: Future similar studies may be conducted in other regions to determine parental perception and attitude towards the government's immunization program and other health care programs.</p>