Parental willingness to vaccinate children against mpox among healthcare workers in southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The success of childhood vaccination programmes depends on parental willingness, which is influenced by several factors. Understanding these determinants is essential for designing effective communication and uptake strategies. We assessed the prevalence and predictors of parental willingness to vaccinate children against mpox in Abia State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 630 parents from May to July 2025, with eligible participants selected using a multistage sampling technique. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire using the validated 7C scale of vaccination readiness was used to collect data. The primary outcome was parental willingness to vaccinate their children against mpox when the vaccine becomes available. Ethical approval was obtained before the study. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS version 26. Statistical significance was set at 5%. Results: The mean age was 44.3±8.5 years. The prevalence of parental mpox vaccine intentions among respondents was 93.7% (95% CI: 91.5% - 95.4%). High confidence was the highest-scoring psychological domain (72.7%). Predictors of parental willingness to vaccinate children against mpox included low educational attainment (AOR =3.06; 95 % CI = 1.04 – 9.02), prior COVID-19 vaccination (AOR =8.18; 95 % CI = 2.54 – 26.37) and high complacency (AOR =0.28; 95 % CI = 0.08 – 0.95). Conclusion: The study demonstrates high parental willingness towards mpox vaccination, driven largely by confidence and reinforced by prior vaccination experience. Complacency remains a key barrier for some parents. Sustaining vaccine uptake will require strategies that reinforce trust, address complacency, and deliver inclusive, clear communication across educational groups.