ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Pediatr.
Sec. Children and Health
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fped.2025.1511018
Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Toward Childhood Vaccination Among Guardians in Chengdu, China: A Cross-Sectional Study
Provisionally accepted
- 1Chengdu Third People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
- 2Xinjiang Medical University, Ürümqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Region, China
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Background Vaccination effectively prevents various infectious diseases and represents one of the most cost-effective health interventions. In China, childhood immunization programs have achieved remarkable success, but guardian knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding vaccination significantly influence immunization coverage. Understanding vaccination KAP among children's guardians in Chengdu is crucial for optimizing immunization programs.Aim To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding childhood vaccination among guardians in Chengdu's Third People's Hospital and identify associated factors to improve vaccination service quality.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 612 guardians of children aged 0-6 years between January and June 2023. Participants were recruited through systematic sampling during vaccination visits, telephone appointments, and household surveys. A structured questionnaire assessed vaccination knowledge (13 items), attitudes (11 items), and practices (9 items). Data were analyzed using χ² tests and logistic regression analysis (P < 0.05).Results Among 612 participants (response rate 90.1%), 97.7% were aware that newborns require vaccination within 24 hours, but knowledge gaps existed regarding vaccine classifications (56.1% aware of Category I vaccines), adverse reactions (61.8%), and specific vaccines like meningococcal (47.1%) and hepatitis A (41.5%). Most guardians (85.1%) considered vaccination necessary, and 69.9% proactively sought vaccination services. However, only 23.4% were unaffected by negative media reports. Logistic regression revealed that higher education levels (OR=1.51, 95%CI: 1.02-2.24), higher family income (OR=1.80, 95%CI: 1.09-2.96), and better housing conditions (OR=1.89, 95%CI: 1.03-3.45) were associated with better vaccination knowledge.Conclusion Guardians in Chengdu demonstrate positive attitudes toward vaccination but require improved knowledge, particularly regarding vaccine categories and safety. Targeted education programs should focus on vulnerable populations with lower education and income levels to enhance vaccination coverage and child health protection.
Keywords: Children's guardians, Vaccines, Vaccination, knowledge, attitudes, Practices, Influencing factors
Received: 14 Oct 2024; Accepted: 06 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Liu, Li, Qin, Wang, Zhu, Yang, Jia and Xu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Ling Qin, Chengdu Third People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
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