The impact of parents' health behaviours on their preferences regarding vaccinations in Bialystok, Poland

Abstract

Background Currently, as the number of vaccinated children in Poland and throughout Europe is decreasing. Many factors impact on the rate vaccination and parents’ health behaviours may affect the frequency of vaccinations.. The aim of the study was to assess the association of parents’ health behaviors with children’s vaccinations. Methods The study was carried out using a diagnostic survey method with an original questionnaire and the Inventory of Health Behaviours. Three hundred parents were recruited from the Pro Medica Family Medica Center in Bialystok Poland. Results Only 3.7% of respondents did not vaccinate their children. The level of health behaviours was average in 42.3% of the respondents, low in 33%, and high in 24.7%. Significant differences in health behaviours, mainly the level of normal eating habits (p = 0.038) and positive mental attitude (p = 0.022), were found in relation to views on the toxicity of vaccines. Participants who reported that vaccines can cause autism engaged in a higher level of prophylactic behaviours. Respondents who vaccinated their children with combined vaccines had a significantly higher level of health practices. Conclusions Parents preferred health behaviours did not effect on children vaccination. Parents who believed in the toxicity of vaccines were more concerned about proper nutrition, had a positive mental attitude, and engaged in a higher level of preventive behaviours and health practices. Parents who did not vaccinate their children had lower levels of normal eating habits. Parents who vaccinated their children with combined vaccines had a higher level of health behaviours, especially in terms of health practices. However, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these results.