Matteo Riccó1,2, Luigi Vezzosi3, Giovanni Gualerzi4, Federica Balzarini5, Angelo G Mezzoiuso5, Anna Odone5, Carlo Signorelli5. 1. Operative Unit for Health and Safety in the Workplaces, Department of Prevention, Provincial Agency for Health Services (APSS) of the Autonomous Province of Trento, Trento, Italy - matteo.ricco@ausl.re.it. 2. Local Health Unit of Reggio Emilia, Department of Public Health, Service for Health and Safety in the Workplace, Regional Health Service of Emilia Romagna, Reggio Emilia, Italy - matteo.ricco@ausl.re.it. 3. Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Neaples, Italy. 4. School of Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy. 5. San Raffaele Hospital, University "Vita e Salute", Milan, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: School teachers (STs) might have a crucial role in countering students' and parents' hesitancy towards immunization. Such role is associated with STs own knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards vaccines. In this cross-sectional study we assess Measles vaccine KAP in a sample of Italian STs. METHODS: Between 01/2012 and 08/2015, 376 STs from the Lombardy region were enrolled in the study; data were retrieved on socio-demographic characteristics, KAP towards MeV, including immunization status. The association between knowledge, practices and a favorable attitude towards MeV was assessed calculating Odds Ratio (OR) and respective 95% Confidence Intervals (95%CI) through multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: 16.7% of STs in Italy know national recommendations on MeV and 16.0% were favorable to MeV and 12.8% of STs reported to have been vaccinated against MeV as adults and only 5.9% reported fears of MeV side effects (e.g. autisms). MeV propensity was associated with previous vaccination as adults (OR 5.222; 95%CI 1.752-15.567), knowledge of national recommendations, and the understanding that MeV prevents natural infection and disease transmission (OR 2.274; IC95% 1.246-4.149, OR 14.061; IC95% 7.048-28.063, and OR 2.085; IC95% 1.125-3.864, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The share of STs holding false beliefs and misconceptions towards MeV was lower than expected. STs might actively contribute to fight parents' vaccine hesitancy and such social role should be further acknowledged and promoted by policy makers and the wider public health community.
BACKGROUND: School teachers (STs) might have a crucial role in countering students' and parents' hesitancy towards immunization. Such role is associated with STs own knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards vaccines. In this cross-sectional study we assess Measles vaccine KAP in a sample of Italian STs. METHODS: Between 01/2012 and 08/2015, 376 STs from the Lombardy region were enrolled in the study; data were retrieved on socio-demographic characteristics, KAP towards MeV, including immunization status. The association between knowledge, practices and a favorable attitude towards MeV was assessed calculating Odds Ratio (OR) and respective 95% Confidence Intervals (95%CI) through multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: 16.7% of STs in Italy know national recommendations on MeV and 16.0% were favorable to MeV and 12.8% of STs reported to have been vaccinated against MeV as adults and only 5.9% reported fears of MeV side effects (e.g. autisms). MeV propensity was associated with previous vaccination as adults (OR 5.222; 95%CI 1.752-15.567), knowledge of national recommendations, and the understanding that MeV prevents natural infection and disease transmission (OR 2.274; IC95% 1.246-4.149, OR 14.061; IC95% 7.048-28.063, and OR 2.085; IC95% 1.125-3.864, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The share of STs holding false beliefs and misconceptions towards MeV was lower than expected. STs might actively contribute to fight parents' vaccine hesitancy and such social role should be further acknowledged and promoted by policy makers and the wider public health community.