Recommended Vaccinations During Adolescence: Parents’ Knowledge and Behaviors

Abstract

Background: This study aims to evaluate parents’ knowledge about vaccination targeted for adolescents. Methods: The cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and April 2024 in a sample of parents of adolescents attending middle and high schools in Southern Italy. Results: Only 10.9% of parents correctly answered all the questions related to the knowledge of vaccinations during adolescence. The results of the multivariate logistic regression model showed that male parents, those who were married/cohabitants, those who had a university degree/masters/PhD, those who were unemployed, those who had a higher number of cohabitants, those who had more than one son/daughter, and parents of older adolescents were significantly more likely to have correct knowledge regarding the vaccinations during adolescence. Overall, more than half of the parents reported that their sons/daughters received the vaccinations indicated during adolescence. Moreover, regarding the vaccinations recommended during adolescence, only 37.2% of parents reported having vaccinated their sons/daughtesr with HPV and tetravalent meningococcal vaccinations. The results of the multivariate logistic regression model showed that those who had correct knowledge regarding vaccination during adolescence, those who had only one son/daughter, parents of older adolescents, those who had a daughter, those who had at least one chronic disease, and those who had a higher number of cohabitants were significantly more likely to have vaccinated their sosn/daughters with HPV and tetravalent meningococcal vaccinations. Conclusions: These findings underlined the need to plan immunization campaigns for adolescents and their parents, with the implementation of educational programs specifically targeted to these groups.