An Overview of Studies on Parental Attitudes towards Vaccination in Türkiye

Abstract

Objective: Vaccination is an important method for preventing infectious diseases and has significantly reduced child mortality worldwide through the Expanded Immunization Program since 1974. Türkiye started implementing this program in 1981, achieving high vaccination rates and strengthening herd immunity. However, vaccine hesitancy and refusal pose a risk to public health. This study aims to examine the attitudes of parents in Türkiye towards vaccination and the factors influencing these attitudes between 2017 and 2024. Material and Methods: A literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Medline, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar with keywords “parents”, “childhood vaccines”, “parental attitude”, “vaccine refusal”, “vaccination schedule” and “vaccine hesitancy”. Results: The studies indicate that vaccine hesitancy rates increased during the pandemic, with social media playing a significant role. Furthermore, the dissemination of non-scientific information through digital sources contributes to vaccine hesitancy among parents. Conclusion: Attitudes towards vaccination are influenced by health literacy, sociodemographic characteristics, information sources, and factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic.