Rotavirus Infection and Vaccination: Knowledge, Beliefs, and Behaviors among Parents in Italy

Francesco Napolitano, Abdoulkader Ali Adou, Alessandra Vastola and Italo Francesco Angelillo
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Francesco Napolitano: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via L. Armanni, 5 80138 Naples, Italy
Abdoulkader Ali Adou: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via L. Armanni, 5 80138 Naples, Italy
Alessandra Vastola: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via L. Armanni, 5 80138 Naples, Italy
Italo Francesco Angelillo: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via L. Armanni, 5 80138 Naples, Italy

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: This study was designed to investigate the knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors about rotavirus infection and its vaccination in a sample of parents in Naples, Italy. The survey was conducted between June and December 2018 among parents of children aged 3 months to 3 years. A total of 40.7% of the study subjects declared that they had heard about rotavirus infection and 60.8% and 59.2% were aware about the vaccination and of its availability in Italy. Parents with a child aged <1 year and those who reported the physicians as source of information were more likely to have heard about rotavirus infection and to know that the vaccination is available in Italy. More than half (56.4%) were worried that their children could have a rotavirus gastroenteritis and this was most likely to occur in those who have heard about rotavirus infection. Only 15.3% declared that they had immunized their children against rotavirus infection. Parents who considered it dangerous for their children to contract the rotavirus gastroenteritis, those who considered the rotavirus vaccine useful, and those who had received information by physicians were more likely to have vaccinated their children against the infection. More than half of the parents who did not immunize their children expressed their willingness to vaccinate them. Developing and implementing additional public education programs are needed for better knowledge toward rotavirus infection and vaccination and a high coverage among parents.

Keywords: behaviors; knowledge; parents; rotavirus vaccination; survey (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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