Parental knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 6 to 11 years

Background The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the well-being of both adults and children, leading to a high number of cases and fatalities among the younger population. Acknowledging the effectiveness of vaccination in preventing COVID-19, parents have shown keen interest in the vaccination campaign for children aged 6 to 11 years. Objective To evaluate parents’ knowledge, attitude, and practices towards COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 6 to 11 years. Methods This descriptive, cross-sectional study included 262 parents of children aged 6 to 11 years, conducted via an online self-reported survey from February to May 2023. Parents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 vaccination were assessed using a questionnaire with 14 true/false knowledge items (maximum score: 14), a 10-item Likert scale for attitudes (maximum score: 50), and nine practice questions (maximum score: 9). Results Good knowledge was shown by 30.2% of participants, while good attitude was demonstrated by only 15.6%. The majority of participants demonstrated good practice at 62.2%. Most participants had a moderate level of knowledge and attitude, at 46.2% and 76.3%, respectively. Knowledge was moderately correlated with practice (r=0.333; P=0.001), as was attitude and practice (r=0.432; P=0.001). Good knowledge was significantly associated with higher income (OR 2.2; 95%CI 1.08 to 4.61; P=0.03) and higher education (OR 3.2; 95%CI 1.47 to 7.07; P=0.003). Conclusion The majority of participants demonstrated good practice, while their knowledge and attitude levels were moderate. Education emerged as a significant factor influencing good knowledge.