Level of knowledge and attitudes of pediatricians about meningococcal infections and vaccination

Abstract

Objective: Although meningococcal infections are most feared infectious diseases due to their high mortality and the possibility of leading to epidemics, there is no common practice for vaccination yet. In this study, we aimed to determine the level of knowledge about meningococcal infection and vaccination, and the attitude towards meningococcal vaccination among pediatricians. Material and Methods: Participants were administered a 41-question survey, investigating the demographic properties, the knowledge on the meningococcal infection-vaccination and attitudes towards vaccination. Results: The study enrolled a total of 169 participants (73 pediatrics specialists and 96 pediatric residents). Of the participants, 22.7% responded that meningococci (Neisseria meningitidis) was the most common cause of bacterial meningitis, while 99.1% of the participants agreed that the only reservoir in meningococcal infections was human, and 98.2% were contagious droplets. Participants stated that effective methods for protection from meningococcal infection were vaccination (81.1%), droplet isolation (66.3%), contact isolation (62.8%) and post-contact chemoprophylaxis (59.1%). While 40.7% of the participants reported that meningococcal vaccine recommended to all patients, 56.8% recommend to patients in the risk group, and 2.5% of respondents never suggested vaccination. 81.8% of the participants agreed that the meningococcal vaccine to be included in the national childhood vaccination schedule. At a rate of 86.7%, the participants had the idea that reduction of the vaccine costs would increase the vaccination frequency. Conclusion: Besides the somehow low level of physicians knowledge about the vaccine, prejudices such the high cost of the vaccine or low frequency of the disease and thinking the vaccine to be ineffective have also been found to be effective against meningococcal vaccination. The immunization practices may improve with the increased of the level of knowledge and awareness of pediatricians about the menigococcal vaccine.