VACCINATION KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE AMONG SAUDI PARENTS IN MAKKAH - CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: In health care, prevention of disease is always better than treatment. Ehreth estimated that annually up to three million children's lives are saved by vaccinations. Despite the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases has declined, concern about vaccine safety has increased. Because parents are the primary health decision-makers for their children, their knowledge and practices regarding immunization in general have a great impact on the immunization status of their children. Objective: Our study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude and practice regarding childhood vaccination and their associated factors among Saudi parents in Makkah city. Methods: An observational, Cross sectional study was conducted for one month (July 2018) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Saudi parents of children aged from 2 months to 7 years who lives in Makkah were invited to participate in this study. Results: Of 400 parents contacted, 273 completed the questionnaire. Majority of them were mothers (84%). Most of them (34.5%) had their information regarding child vaccination from medical staff, followed by social media (21.9%). The results revealed that almost half of parents (57%) had adequate knowledge regarding child vaccination. Attitude towards child vaccination was positive in (53%) of the parents. Only (75%) Compliance with the MOH vaccination schedule. Conclusions: Although more than half of parents had acceptable KAP toward their children immunization, however there is a significant proportion of parents had misguided knowledge and attitudes about some aspects of child immunization and educational program is needed. the age of the parents needs to be taken into consideration when the program is planned.