Adolescents' and Parental Knowledge, Health Beliefs Toward Hepatitis A Vaccination.
- Author:
Seo Hee YOON
1
;
Hyo Yeon LEE
;
Han Wool KIM
;
Kyoung Ae KONG
;
Kyung Hyo KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic Korea. kaykim@ewha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Hepatitis A;
Vaccine;
Adolescent;
Parent;
Knowledge
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Demography;
Hepatitis A Vaccines;
Hepatitis A*;
Hepatitis*;
Humans;
Immunization Programs;
Incidence;
Korea;
Lectures;
Legal Guardians;
Parents*;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Vaccination*
- From:Korean Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
2013;20(3):147-160
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Although the overall incidence of hepatitis A in Korea has been decreasing recently, the adolescents born before the introduction of the hepatitis A vaccine remain to be highly vulnerable to outbreak. This study examines the unvaccinated adolescents' and their parents' knowledge and health beliefs toward hepatitis A vaccination. METHODS: Healthy adolescents aged 13-19 years old who had no previous history of hepatitis A vaccine and hepatitis A infection, and their parents or legal guardians were the subjects of the study. The survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model, and examined the subjects' demographics, knowledge, and health beliefs (i.e., perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers). RESULTS: We included 157 adolescents and their parents/guardians (mean age: 16.0+/-1.6 and 45.6+/-4.7 years, respectively). The average knowledge item score for adolescents and parents was 6.4+/-3.7 and 7.3+/-3.4 (out of 18), respectively. Similarly, average Health Belief Model item scores were: susceptibility, 5.6+/-1.6 and 5.9+/-1.7 (range: 2-10); severity, 16.3+/-4.1 and 18.3+/-3.6 (range:5-25); benefits, 19.7+/-3.3 and 20.6+/-2.1 (range:5-25); and barriers, 41.3+/-8.9 and 39.0+/-9.1 (range:7-85). The major reason for not undergoing hepatitis A vaccination was lack of knowledge about its importance. CONCLUSIONS: Refresher health lectures about hepatitis A and the vaccine are needed by both the adolescents and their parents. Furthermore, the inclusion of hepatitis A vaccine in the national immunization program should be considered to reduce the risk of hepatitis A outbreak and to raise the vaccination coverage among the adolescents in Korea.
