Behzad Jafarinia - MSc in epidemiology, Dezful University of Medical Sciences (DUMS), Dezful, Iran
Hadi Ehsanbakhsh - MSc in health education & promotion, Dezful University of Medical Sciences (DUMS), Dezful, Iran
Maryam Mazaheri - Department of Social Medicine and Family, School of Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences (DUMS), Dezful, Iran.
Mehdi Khezli - Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of MedicalSciences, Kermanshah, Iran
Arman Latifi - ۵Department of Public Health, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
Hamidreza Aghababaeian - ۶Department of Medical Emergencies, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran.Center for Climate Chang Adaptation Research (CCAR), Dezful University of Medical Sciences, 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.

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