Assessing the Impact of Knowledge, Attitude, Practice (KAP) and Risk Perception of COVID-۱۹ on Child Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) in Dezful, Iran

Background:The present study aimed at determining the impact of knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) and risk perception of COVID-۱۹ among parents of children under two years of age in Dezful, Iran in ۲۰۲۰.Methods: As a case-control study, cases were parents of children under two years of age with a delay of ۱ month or more of vaccination; and control group were parents of children under two years of age without delay of vaccination were selected by simple random sampling. The study tool was a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity and reliability were approved. Following filling in the questionnaires, for evaluation, the reasons for the delay in both groups were recorded and compared.Results: The investigation on the relationship between the studied variables showed there was a significant relationship among the following cases: knowledge with practice (p=۰.۰۰۱, r=۰.۳), knowledge with attitude (p=۰.۰۰۶, r=۰.۱) practice with perceived risk (p=۰.۰۰۲, r= ۰.۱), and attitude with practice (p=۰.۰۰۱, r=۰.۳). Data analysis indicated that knowledge, practice and risk perception were significantly higher in parents who referred to healthcare centers in time to vaccinate their children compared with parents who referred to healthcare centers with delay (p < ۰.۰۵). However, the attitude was not meaningful.Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that the perception of the risk of COVID-۱۹ disease could not affect the timely referral of children to get the vaccine; and the delay in referral was still for reasons other than fear of COVID-۱۹.

کلیدواژه ها:

Vaccination Coverage ، Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) ، COVID-۱۹ ، Children