Socio-demographic Determinants of Caregivers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices toward Childhood Immunization in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Abstract

Childhood vaccination is one of the best pediatric interventions in the prevention of infectious diseases. Nevertheless, caregivers’ knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) are critical elements that determine vaccine acceptance. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the association between caregivers’ socio-demographic factors and their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding childhood immunization in Sulaymaniyah City, Iraq. A total of 305 caregivers visiting healthcare centers in Sulaymaniyah participated in the study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire comprising items on socio-demographic characteristics and caregivers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding childhood immunization. The study results revealed that 79.7% of caregivers had good knowledge, 67.2% had positive attitudes, and 39.7% demonstrated good practices regarding childhood immunization. A high positive correlation (P < 0.001) was observed among caregivers’ KAP. Caregiver roles, age, occupation, and educational levels had significant associations with knowledge and attitude, whereas practice had significant (P < 0.005) associations with occupation, educational level, and information sources. The results of the present study show that immunization practices are strongly associated with parental characteristics, including educational level, occupation, economic status, and access to healthcare services. It is imperative to improve health education campaigns and increase the involvement of health personnel.