The frequency and determinants of vaccine hesitancy among parents of preschool and kindergarten students in Edirne central district

The aim of our study is to determine the frequency of vaccine hesitancy and the associated factors among parents with preschool children in a city center. We conducted a cross-sectional study among parents of preschool children in the central district of Edirne. The cluster sampling method was applied. The data collection tools consisted of a questionnaire designed by the researchers and The Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) Scale. The correlations between vaccine hesitancy among parents factos such as the vaccine's content, adverse effects, religious beliefs, media coverage, reliance on community leaders, and the usage of complementary and alternative medical methods were examined. The study group consisted of 315 individuals and the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among participants was determined to be 13%. The mean PACV scale score of the parents was 29.76 ± 16.62. According to multivariate analyses, the odds ratios (%95 CI) of variables that were statistically significantly associated with parental vaccine hesitancy were as follows: being a mother 8.77 (1.02–75.07), vaccine side effects 2.91 (0.93–9.16), low/equal income level 6.80 (2.45–18.86), low/high income level 5.74 (1.65–20.0), religious reasons 3.33 (1.34–8.25), and media influence 9.53 (3.75–24.18). Overall, vaccine hesitancy was observed at one in every 7 parents in the central district of Edirne province, and the main determinants of hesitancy were low-income status, media influence and religious beliefs, advers effects and being mother. Community-based intervention programs should be established to combat vaccine hesitancy. The PACV scale is recommended for detecting community-based vaccine hesitancy.