AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE OF ROTAVIRUS VACCINE AMONG MOTHERS OF NEONATES ATTENDING KUWAIT TEACHING HOSPITAL, PESHAWAR-PAKISTAN

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate knowledge of rotavirus vaccine among mothers with association of maternal knowledge with education. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted at pediatric unit of a Kuwait Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan among 102 mothers using validated questionnaire through convenient sampling from December 2017 to December 2018. All mothers visiting the Paediatric outpatient as well as staying with Paediatric inpatient were recruited with their permission, whereas admitted and sick mothers were excluded. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version- 19. Association of maternal education with mother's knowledge was assessed through Chi square, by setting p values as 0.05. RESULTS: Mean age of the participating mothers was 26.47±5.5 years. Only 16% (n=16) mothers were aware about the existence of new vaccine for diarrhea, 82.34% (n=84) had never heard about the vaccine and 2% (n=2) were very ignorant. Knowledge in relation to spread (36.3%), administration (16.7%), dose of rotavirus vaccine (11.8%), age at which first dose is given (34.3%) and type of the disease prevented (37.3%) was poor. Acceptance of rotavirus vaccine was found to be excellent (91.2%). Maternal education had significant association with knowledge and awareness of rotavirus vaccine (p<0.01). However other parameters like dose (p=0.68), spread (p=0.75), administration (p=0.65), age of vaccination (p=0.45) and type of disease prevented (p=0.54) had no significant association with maternal education. CONCLUSION: Awareness of rotavirus vaccine among the mothers of Peshawar was poor, however acceptance was found to be excellent. Maternal education had significant association with knowledge and awareness of rotavirus vaccine.