KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF MOTHERS REGARDING CHILDHOOD VACCINATION

Abstract

Introduction: Vaccines are killed or weakened bacteria, viruses, and harmless toxins that do not have the ability to cause disease. Vaccines train the immune system to produce antibodies and immune substances. Vaccines are used to prevent various infectious diseases by causing the body's immune system to activate and react, allowing it to recognize and create antibodies against invading infections. Vaccines play a critical role in avoiding morbidity and death from fatal childhood diseases.

Objective: To determine mothers' awareness of vaccines and their benefits, as well as their level of adaptation—or lack thereof—to vaccines for their children in the year 2023.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using questionnaires filled out by 516 mothers in the General Pediatric Unit of Maiwand Teaching Hospital in the year 2023. The SPSS 22.0 version was used to analyze all of the data.

Results: 516 mothers were interviewed in this study, of whom 51.94% were under 30, and 47.68% were between 30 and 50 years old. 87.79% of the mothers were housewives, and 12% of them were working mothers. The source of mothers’ knowledge and awareness were family members in 47%, hospitals and health centers in 32%, and public media in 21% of the cases. 44% of the interviewed mothers had three or fewer children, and 56% had more than four children. 23% of the mothers were literate, and 77% were illiterate. 73% of the interviewed mothers had sufficient information about vaccines, and 71% of mothers had applied vaccines to their children.

Conclusion: Overall, vaccination rates were relatively high but could still be optimized. Continued efforts are warranted to enhance maternal education and fully protect all children through standardized immunization schedules in Afghanistan. Addressing disparities can help realize the goal of preventing preventable childhood diseases nationwide.