Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among parents of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination was noticed to be less common among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. This study aimed to explore the beliefs and willingness of parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16127-3 |
| _version_ | 1797555899396521984 |
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| author | Ali Jawad Al Saad Ghadeer Mohammed Alhassan Maryam Saleh Albedaiwi Fatimah Fathi Alqattan Fatimah Ali Aleisa Hawra Wasel Alabdulmuhsin |
| author_facet | Ali Jawad Al Saad Ghadeer Mohammed Alhassan Maryam Saleh Albedaiwi Fatimah Fathi Alqattan Fatimah Ali Aleisa Hawra Wasel Alabdulmuhsin |
| author_sort | Ali Jawad Al Saad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination was noticed to be less common among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. This study aimed to explore the beliefs and willingness of parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders about COVID-19 vaccine and understand how certain factors influencing the vaccine decision-making process differ between them and other parents’ groups. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between August to November 2021. An Arabic online survey was distributed in August 2021 to collect the study’s data. 400 parents from all the major regions in Saudi Arabia participated in and shared their beliefs about the new COVID-19 vaccination for their children. Results Out of 400 participants, 381 of them were eligible to answer the survey (95.2%). The total number of parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorder was 158 (41.5%), was compared to responses of parents of heathy children 223 (58.5%). 85 (53.8%) of them were ready to vaccinate their children with COVID-19 vaccine. While 36 (22.8%) were hesitant, the rest 37 (23.4%) did not want to vaccinate their children at all. Only a small number 16 (10.1%) have beliefs of vaccines as a cause of their child’s neurodevelopmental disorder. A total of 79 out of 131 responses were received from both parents’ groups. Fear of long-term side-effects was the most common reason reported by 41 responders out of 64 (64.06%) from parents of healthy children and 38 responders out of 67 (56.71%) from parents of diagnosed children. Another reason reported by parents of younger children in both groups was the child’s age. Having a healthcare relative worker was significantly associated with the vaccine decision making (p < .001). Conclusion The acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccination of parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders was low compared to the parents of healthy children in Saudi Arabia. Authorities can benefit from this study results to offer more accessible information about the vaccine importance and safety to the targeted population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:55:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-86ba74e0d74a4dc1b04d05a5ba173e7f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:55:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-86ba74e0d74a4dc1b04d05a5ba173e7f2023-11-20T11:11:03ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-06-0123111010.1186/s12889-023-16127-3Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among parents of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional studyAli Jawad Al Saad0Ghadeer Mohammed Alhassan1Maryam Saleh Albedaiwi2Fatimah Fathi Alqattan3Fatimah Ali Aleisa4Hawra Wasel Alabdulmuhsin5King Faisal UniversityKing Faisal UniversityKing Faisal UniversityKing Faisal UniversityKing Faisal UniversityKing Faisal UniversityAbstract Background Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination was noticed to be less common among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. This study aimed to explore the beliefs and willingness of parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders about COVID-19 vaccine and understand how certain factors influencing the vaccine decision-making process differ between them and other parents’ groups. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between August to November 2021. An Arabic online survey was distributed in August 2021 to collect the study’s data. 400 parents from all the major regions in Saudi Arabia participated in and shared their beliefs about the new COVID-19 vaccination for their children. Results Out of 400 participants, 381 of them were eligible to answer the survey (95.2%). The total number of parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorder was 158 (41.5%), was compared to responses of parents of heathy children 223 (58.5%). 85 (53.8%) of them were ready to vaccinate their children with COVID-19 vaccine. While 36 (22.8%) were hesitant, the rest 37 (23.4%) did not want to vaccinate their children at all. Only a small number 16 (10.1%) have beliefs of vaccines as a cause of their child’s neurodevelopmental disorder. A total of 79 out of 131 responses were received from both parents’ groups. Fear of long-term side-effects was the most common reason reported by 41 responders out of 64 (64.06%) from parents of healthy children and 38 responders out of 67 (56.71%) from parents of diagnosed children. Another reason reported by parents of younger children in both groups was the child’s age. Having a healthcare relative worker was significantly associated with the vaccine decision making (p < .001). Conclusion The acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccination of parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders was low compared to the parents of healthy children in Saudi Arabia. Authorities can benefit from this study results to offer more accessible information about the vaccine importance and safety to the targeted population.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16127-3Vaccine hesitancyCOVID-19AutismNeurodevelopmental disordersSaudi Arabia |
| spellingShingle | Ali Jawad Al Saad Ghadeer Mohammed Alhassan Maryam Saleh Albedaiwi Fatimah Fathi Alqattan Fatimah Ali Aleisa Hawra Wasel Alabdulmuhsin Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among parents of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study BMC Public Health Vaccine hesitancy COVID-19 Autism Neurodevelopmental disorders Saudi Arabia |
| title | Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among parents of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among parents of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among parents of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among parents of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among parents of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | acceptance of covid 19 vaccination among parents of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in saudi arabia a cross sectional study |
| topic | Vaccine hesitancy COVID-19 Autism Neurodevelopmental disorders Saudi Arabia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16127-3 |
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