Childhood Vaccination Among Arab Parents: A Meta-Analysis of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices
Background: Childhood vaccination is crucial for preventing infectious diseases, yet parental concerns and hesitations persist. Understanding and assessing parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding vaccines is essential, as these factors influence confidence in vaccination and ad...
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Medsci Publications
2025-07-01
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| Series: | National Journal of Community Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.njcmindia.com/index.php/file/article/view/5451 |
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| author | Sakina Al-Jadd Mohammed Merzah |
| author_facet | Sakina Al-Jadd Mohammed Merzah |
| author_sort | Sakina Al-Jadd |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Background: Childhood vaccination is crucial for preventing infectious diseases, yet parental concerns and hesitations persist. Understanding and assessing parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding vaccines is essential, as these factors influence confidence in vaccination and adherence to immunization schedules.
Methods: This meta-analysis synthesized evidence on Arab parents' KAP toward childhood vaccination, based on a systematic review of eligible studies and pooled analysis using a random-effects model.
Results: Fifteen studies were included: 14 reported knowledge scores (9,035 participants), 13 reported attitudes (8,523 participants), and 7 reported practices (5,106 participants). The pooled estimates were 0.73 for good knowledge (95% CI: 0.62–0.81), 0.83 for positive attitudes (95% CI: 0.74–0.89), and 0.77 for good practices (95% CI: 0.64–0.86), all with high heterogeneity (I² >97%). Meta-regression showed persistent variability (I² = 92.7%, 99.2%, 98.7%), with no significant link between KAP scores and the proportion of mothers.
Conclusion: This meta-analysis highlights a strong association between good parental knowledge and positive attitudes, which translate into favorable vaccination practices. However, high heterogeneity across studies due to differences in design, populations, and cultural context limits the generalizability of findings. These findings underscore the need for targeted educational interventions to enhance parental vaccine awareness and uptake.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cb9d839be8db448a980a7f21d866b32e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0976-3325 2229-6816 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Medsci Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | National Journal of Community Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-cb9d839be8db448a980a7f21d866b32e2025-08-20T03:30:04ZengMedsci PublicationsNational Journal of Community Medicine0976-33252229-68162025-07-01160710.55489/njcm.160720255451Childhood Vaccination Among Arab Parents: A Meta-Analysis of Knowledge, Attitudes, and PracticesSakina Al-Jadd0Mohammed Merzah1Department of Community Health, College of Health and Medical Technique, Al-Furat Al-Awsat technical University, Kufa, IraqDepartment of Community Health, Technical Institute of Karbala, Al-Furat Al-Awsat technical University, Karbala, Iraq Background: Childhood vaccination is crucial for preventing infectious diseases, yet parental concerns and hesitations persist. Understanding and assessing parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding vaccines is essential, as these factors influence confidence in vaccination and adherence to immunization schedules. Methods: This meta-analysis synthesized evidence on Arab parents' KAP toward childhood vaccination, based on a systematic review of eligible studies and pooled analysis using a random-effects model. Results: Fifteen studies were included: 14 reported knowledge scores (9,035 participants), 13 reported attitudes (8,523 participants), and 7 reported practices (5,106 participants). The pooled estimates were 0.73 for good knowledge (95% CI: 0.62–0.81), 0.83 for positive attitudes (95% CI: 0.74–0.89), and 0.77 for good practices (95% CI: 0.64–0.86), all with high heterogeneity (I² >97%). Meta-regression showed persistent variability (I² = 92.7%, 99.2%, 98.7%), with no significant link between KAP scores and the proportion of mothers. Conclusion: This meta-analysis highlights a strong association between good parental knowledge and positive attitudes, which translate into favorable vaccination practices. However, high heterogeneity across studies due to differences in design, populations, and cultural context limits the generalizability of findings. These findings underscore the need for targeted educational interventions to enhance parental vaccine awareness and uptake. https://www.njcmindia.com/index.php/file/article/view/5451KnowledgeAttitudesPracticesParentsVaccinationImmunization |
| spellingShingle | Sakina Al-Jadd Mohammed Merzah Childhood Vaccination Among Arab Parents: A Meta-Analysis of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices National Journal of Community Medicine Knowledge Attitudes Practices Parents Vaccination Immunization |
| title | Childhood Vaccination Among Arab Parents: A Meta-Analysis of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices |
| title_full | Childhood Vaccination Among Arab Parents: A Meta-Analysis of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices |
| title_fullStr | Childhood Vaccination Among Arab Parents: A Meta-Analysis of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices |
| title_full_unstemmed | Childhood Vaccination Among Arab Parents: A Meta-Analysis of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices |
| title_short | Childhood Vaccination Among Arab Parents: A Meta-Analysis of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices |
| title_sort | childhood vaccination among arab parents a meta analysis of knowledge attitudes and practices |
| topic | Knowledge Attitudes Practices Parents Vaccination Immunization |
| url | https://www.njcmindia.com/index.php/file/article/view/5451 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sakinaaljadd childhoodvaccinationamongarabparentsametaanalysisofknowledgeattitudesandpractices AT mohammedmerzah childhoodvaccinationamongarabparentsametaanalysisofknowledgeattitudesandpractices |