Research Article

Does Health Literacy Affect Vaccine Hesitation?

Volume: 19 Number: 1 March 7, 2025
TR EN

Does Health Literacy Affect Vaccine Hesitation?

Abstract

Background: Despite substantial and convincing evidence that vaccines save the lives of millions of children each year, vaccine hesitancy has become a growing focus of attention and concern. In 2019, the World Health Organization ranked vaccine hesitancy among threats to global health. This study was conducted to determine the effect of individuals' health literacy on vaccine hesitancy. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 365 adults in Turkey. Data were collected using a Sociodemographic Characteristics Form, the Health Literacy Scale, and the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale. Results: The level of health literacy of the research group was good, and the level of their vaccine hesitancy was moderate. A significant negative correlation was found between health literacy and vaccine hesitancy (p≤0.05). It was determined that as the education level increased, the level of health literacy increased, and vaccine hesitancy decreased (p≤0.05). The vaccine hesitancy scores of those who had not received both adult and COVID-19 vaccines were higher than the scores of those who had (p≤0.05). Conclusion: The study's findings showed a negative correlation between health literacy and vaccine hesitancy and that the level of education positively affected both variables. Conducting studies to increase health literacy to create social awareness about vaccine hesitancy or refusal can help reduce the increasing anti-vaccination movement.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Preventative Health Care, Family Medicine

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

February 21, 2025

Publication Date

March 7, 2025

Submission Date

April 26, 2024

Acceptance Date

October 7, 2024

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 19 Number: 1

APA
Göl, İ., & Açıkgöz, S. (2025). Does Health Literacy Affect Vaccine Hesitation? Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 19(1), 23-31. https://doi.org/10.21763/tjfmpc.1474170
AMA
1.Göl İ, Açıkgöz S. Does Health Literacy Affect Vaccine Hesitation? TJFMPC. 2025;19(1):23-31. doi:10.21763/tjfmpc.1474170
Chicago
Göl, İlknur, and Serap Açıkgöz. 2025. “Does Health Literacy Affect Vaccine Hesitation?”. Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care 19 (1): 23-31. https://doi.org/10.21763/tjfmpc.1474170.
EndNote
Göl İ, Açıkgöz S (March 1, 2025) Does Health Literacy Affect Vaccine Hesitation? Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care 19 1 23–31.
IEEE
[1]İ. Göl and S. Açıkgöz, “Does Health Literacy Affect Vaccine Hesitation?”, TJFMPC, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 23–31, Mar. 2025, doi: 10.21763/tjfmpc.1474170.
ISNAD
Göl, İlknur - Açıkgöz, Serap. “Does Health Literacy Affect Vaccine Hesitation?”. Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care 19/1 (March 1, 2025): 23-31. https://doi.org/10.21763/tjfmpc.1474170.
JAMA
1.Göl İ, Açıkgöz S. Does Health Literacy Affect Vaccine Hesitation? TJFMPC. 2025;19:23–31.
MLA
Göl, İlknur, and Serap Açıkgöz. “Does Health Literacy Affect Vaccine Hesitation?”. Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, vol. 19, no. 1, Mar. 2025, pp. 23-31, doi:10.21763/tjfmpc.1474170.
Vancouver
1.İlknur Göl, Serap Açıkgöz. Does Health Literacy Affect Vaccine Hesitation? TJFMPC. 2025 Mar. 1;19(1):23-31. doi:10.21763/tjfmpc.1474170

Cited By

English or Turkish manuscripts from authors with new knowledge to contribute to understanding and improving health and primary care are welcome. 


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