Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Parents with Children between 24?72 Months of Age and Their Knowledge and Attitudes about Self-Paid Vaccines: Comparison of East vs. West

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate comparatively sociodemographic characteristics and information level about self-paid vaccines of parents who have children aged 24-72 months in two socioeconomically different regions. Methods: Total 300 parents from which 149 patients applied to Istanbul Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital and 151 patients applied to BingölAdakli District Integrated Hospital between May 2014 and July 2014 were surveyed with the face to face interview method. Influences of regional disparities (East-West), socio-demographic and socio-economic factors over parents' knowledge, attitude and behavior were examined. Results: 190 (63%) of total 300 participants in the survey were aware of self-paid vaccines. Although 75 (39%) parents who are aware of the self-paid vaccines had their children vaccinated with self-paid vaccines, three (14%) parents who are aware of self-paid vaccines through the media had their children vaccinated with self-paid vaccines. It was found that mothers’ education level and household income level increased the rate of self-paid vaccinations. In Bingol number of vaccinated children with self-paid vaccines were 25 (17%) for rotavirus, 10 (7%) for Hepatit A and 4 (3%) for Varicella. In İstanbul, the numbers of vaccinated children with self-paid vaccines were 13 (9%) for rotavirus, 31 (21%) for Hepatit A and eight (5%) for Varicella. Conclusion: In our study, self-paid vaccine preferences are observed to differ according to the regions they live in. In Istanbul, Hepatitis A and Varicella vaccines, in Bingöl rotavirus vaccine was found to be vaccinated more.