Childhood vaccine hesitancy among academics in Türkiye

Abstract

Background: Vaccine hesitancy has been increasing both in Türkiye and worldwide, posing a growing challenge to public health efforts. Aim: This study aimed to determine the level of childhood vaccine hesitancy among academics in Türkiye. Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between June 15 and December 15, 2021. The study population included all academics employed at public universities in Türkiye, and data were collected from 245 participants. The “Sociodemographic Data Collection Form” and the “Vaccine Hesitancy Scale” were used as data collection tools. Results: The mean age of academics was 43.63 ± 10.68 years. Of the participants, 55.9% were female, 76.7% were married, 62% had no children, and 74.3% worked in non-health fields. Additionally, 64.9% received information or education about childhood vaccinations. The most frequently cited sources of information were healthcare professionals (48.6%) and scientific articles (26.1%). Most participants (95.5%) believed that vaccines are necessary. Factors influencing attitudes toward vaccination included past experiences with vaccines (33.5%) and concerns about the reliability of vaccine sources (29.4%). The mean total score on the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale was 37.18 ± 14.74. Conclusions: Academics in this study exhibited a low level of vaccine hesitancy. These findings highlight the importance of addressing specific concerns, such as source reliability, even among highly educated populations. Trial registration: This study was not registered as a clinical trial as it does not involve an interventional design.