Aplicação do questionário “atitude de pais sobre a vacinação infantil (PACV-Brasil)” no município de Lagarto-Se

Abstract

The hesitancy to childhood vaccines, a complex behavior in which there is a delay of doses or refusal of some immunizers, has become a global concern because of its growth and consequences in recent years. The main objective of this research is to measure the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy in the city of Lagarto-SE. This is a cross-sectional quanti-qualitative study, carried out by applying the PACV-Brazil questionnaire and a sociodemographic questionnaire in a population sample of 87 individuals. The questionnaires were distributed in waiting rooms of local Unidades Básicas de Saúde (Basic Health Units), at the Hospital Universitário de Lagarto (University Hospital of Lagarto) and at the Centro de Simulações e Práticas (Simulation and Practice Center) of the Universidade Federal de Sergipe (Federal University of Sergipe) during the period from September 2022 to February 2023. The prevalence found of hesitancy to childhood vaccines was 4.6%, which corresponds to a score = 50 points in the PACV-Brazil. The sample group proved to be quite homogeneous, composed of brown (63.2%) women (88.5%) who did not complete high school (66.6%). Statistically, there was no significant difference between the sociodemographic variables and vaccine hesitancy; furthermore, it was observed that the reason that most concerned parents in the vaccination process was possible side effects of immunizers (74.2%). The most cited vaccine, among participants with fear of some immunizers, was the Covid-19 vaccine with 48.3% of the responses. The study aims to contribute with the perception of professionals who are inserted in the health services of Lagarto-SE about the factors that influence decision making unfavorable to immunization. And, thus, allow the creation of strategies for the guidance of parents and guardians in the vaccination process.