Parental intention to vaccinate children against seasonal influenza in the Eastern Mediterranean region: A cross-sectional study using the health belief model

Abstract

Seasonal influenza vaccine is the most effective strategy for reducing influenza incidence and severity. Parental decision-making regarding childhood vaccination is influenced by one's vaccine-related beliefs. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the role of the Health Belief Model (HBM) in predicting parental intention to vaccinate their children against influenza in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). An anonymous online survey was distributed to parents of children aged 6 months to 18 years in 14 EMR countries. Out of the 5964 participants, 28.2% intended to vaccinate their children against influenza. Urban residents (OR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.35-0.85), decision-making regarding child's health by the father alone (OR = 0.43, 95%CI: 0.34-0.55) or the mother alone (OR = 0.78, 95%CI: 0.65-0.93), having a child with a chronic illness (OR = 0.45, 95%CI: 0.38-0.53), reporting high perceived severity, susceptibility, and benefits (OR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.30-0.40), and cues to action (OR = 0.45, 95%CI: 0.39-0.51) were inversely associated with parental unwillingness to vaccinate their children against influenza. While parents with a higher number of children in the household (OR = 1.08, 95%CI:1.03-1.12) and higher perceived barriers (OR = 2.92, 95%CI: 2.56-3.34) showed an increased likelihood of unwillingness to vaccinate their children. Interventions targeting parental beliefs and perceptions are necessary to improve influenza vaccination acceptance and coverage among children.