Evaluation of vaccine hesitancy/refusal in Giresun province

Abstract

PURPOSE This study aimed to determine the frequency of vaccine hesitancy/refusal specifically in the province of Giresun, identify the reasons behind these behaviors, and determine the factors that could influence families in making these decisions. METHODS The data for this study were obtained from 'Vaccine Refusal Form' filled in by family physicians and 'Vaccination Refusal Reasons Survey' (including data about gender, identity of the family member refusing vaccination, mother's education level, father's education level, mother's occupation, father's occupation, average monthly household income, type of vaccine refused, reasons for vaccine refusal) prepared by the Public Health Services Department of the Giresun Provincial Health Directorate is also filled out by families and sent to the Directorate at the end of each month along with the refusal forms. The study encompassed data from the years 2019 to 2023 inclusive. RESULTS The number of infants/children who had not received at least one vaccine due to family refusal was 98 in 2019, and this number increased each year, reaching 99, 184, 213, and 317 in the subsequent years. These children including 431 girls (47,3%) and 480 boys (52.7%). According to the live birth data and Birth Notification System information released for Giresun province, the rate of vaccine hesitancy/refusal calculated was 2.3% in 2019 and increased each year to 2.5%, 4.8%, 5.7%, and 8.9% for the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. CONCLUSION Vaccine hesitancy/refusal is emerging as a problem growing day by day, and remains significant regardless of the education level and occupation of those who engage in it, and regardless of which region or country they live in. Policies that can prevent misinformation on this subject should be developed and implemented swiftly.

Keywords

• vaccine hesitancy
• vaccine refusal
• giresun

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