Vaccinations among Italian adolescents: Knowledge, attitude and behavior

This study evaluates knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of adolescents regarding vaccinations. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 771 adolescents, aged 11 to 18 selected from a random sample of 5 public schools, in the period between March and May 2017, in the geographical area...

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Main Authors: Concetta Paola Pelullo, Gabriella Di Giuseppe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2018-07-01
Series:Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2017.1421877
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author Concetta Paola Pelullo
Gabriella Di Giuseppe
author_facet Concetta Paola Pelullo
Gabriella Di Giuseppe
author_sort Concetta Paola Pelullo
collection DOAJ
description This study evaluates knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of adolescents regarding vaccinations. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 771 adolescents, aged 11 to 18 selected from a random sample of 5 public schools, in the period between March and May 2017, in the geographical area of Naples. A self-administered questionnaire was used to seek information about: 1) socio-demographic characteristics; 2) knowledge of vaccine-preventable diseases; 3) attitudes towards vaccinations; 4) behavior regarding vaccinations. 57.2% had a fair/satisfactory knowledge of vaccine-preventable diseases. This knowledge was significantly higher in those who had at least one graduated parent, those who had received information about the vaccines from physicians and those who needed additional information about the vaccines. With regards to attitude, 41.3% of adolescents had a very favorable attitude by responding 9 or 10 towards the utility of vaccines in preventing diseases. This was significantly associated with the usefulness of information received about vaccinations and with age of respondents. Regarding vaccination decisions, 47.2% believed that adolescents should make vaccination decisions for themselves. These results highlight the need to implement educational interventions to improve adolescents' understanding of vaccinations so that they are more informed in decisions regarding their health.
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spelling doaj.art-838dae38733b4d4c9a5e7b639c3c16f02023-09-22T08:17:54ZengTaylor & Francis GroupHuman Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics2164-55152164-554X2018-07-011471566157210.1080/21645515.2017.14218771421877Vaccinations among Italian adolescents: Knowledge, attitude and behaviorConcetta Paola Pelullo0Gabriella Di Giuseppe1University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”This study evaluates knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of adolescents regarding vaccinations. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 771 adolescents, aged 11 to 18 selected from a random sample of 5 public schools, in the period between March and May 2017, in the geographical area of Naples. A self-administered questionnaire was used to seek information about: 1) socio-demographic characteristics; 2) knowledge of vaccine-preventable diseases; 3) attitudes towards vaccinations; 4) behavior regarding vaccinations. 57.2% had a fair/satisfactory knowledge of vaccine-preventable diseases. This knowledge was significantly higher in those who had at least one graduated parent, those who had received information about the vaccines from physicians and those who needed additional information about the vaccines. With regards to attitude, 41.3% of adolescents had a very favorable attitude by responding 9 or 10 towards the utility of vaccines in preventing diseases. This was significantly associated with the usefulness of information received about vaccinations and with age of respondents. Regarding vaccination decisions, 47.2% believed that adolescents should make vaccination decisions for themselves. These results highlight the need to implement educational interventions to improve adolescents' understanding of vaccinations so that they are more informed in decisions regarding their health.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2017.1421877adolescentattitudebehaviorknowledgevaccinationvaccination decisionsitaly
spellingShingle Concetta Paola Pelullo
Gabriella Di Giuseppe
Vaccinations among Italian adolescents: Knowledge, attitude and behavior
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
adolescent
attitude
behavior
knowledge
vaccination
vaccination decisions
italy
title Vaccinations among Italian adolescents: Knowledge, attitude and behavior
title_full Vaccinations among Italian adolescents: Knowledge, attitude and behavior
title_fullStr Vaccinations among Italian adolescents: Knowledge, attitude and behavior
title_full_unstemmed Vaccinations among Italian adolescents: Knowledge, attitude and behavior
title_short Vaccinations among Italian adolescents: Knowledge, attitude and behavior
title_sort vaccinations among italian adolescents knowledge attitude and behavior
topic adolescent
attitude
behavior
knowledge
vaccination
vaccination decisions
italy
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2017.1421877
work_keys_str_mv AT concettapaolapelullo vaccinationsamongitalianadolescentsknowledgeattitudeandbehavior
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