Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice of Rotavirus Vaccination Among Lebanese Parents: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Background: Increasing parental vaccination hesitancy is fueled by concerns of vaccination safety and effectiveness, widespread misinformation, and barriers to vaccines availability and accessibility. Vaccination uptake against rotavirus remains suboptimal in low-middle income countries. We aimed to study the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of Lebanese parents towards vaccination with a focus on Rotavirus vaccine. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2 public and 2 private schools in the greater Beirut area in 2017-2018 school year. A questionnaire assessing KAP of vaccination in general and rotavirus vaccine in specific was shared with Lebanese parents of school children between aged 3 to 18 years. Results: The overall response rate was 76.5% (306 out of 400 questionnaires) out of which 221 respondents answered the rotavirus questions. Only 45.25% respondents reported vaccinating their children against rotavirus. Factors associated with higher vaccine uptake included younger parent’s age, higher level of parent’s education, children’s mothers being employed, and higher household incomes (p-values <0.005). Respondents vaccinating against Rotavirus have a more positive attitude towards vaccines in general and 96% reported their child’s pediatrician to be their primary source of information. Lack of pediatrician’s recommendation was the most common reason (55%) for not vaccinating against rotavirus. Conclusion: Vaccination against rotavirus among Lebanese children remains low but increases with higher parental age, education, and income. Cost and lack of awareness were the most significant barriers for vaccination while pediatricians’ recommendation was the most trusted and influential source on parent’s decision to vaccinate. More efforts are needed to disseminate vaccination information through pediatricians’ recommendations and other means and increase vaccine availability and accessibility.