Fatores associados à permissão da vacinação infantil no contexto da pandemia da COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: Vaccination aims to protect people through the prevention, control and eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases. Most vaccines proposed by the national vaccination schedule are applied during childhood. Over the years, instability in vaccination coverage has been observed in the regions of Brazil. Added to this, with the advent of COVID-19 and social isolation measures, the population's routine was affected, impacting several areas of social life, including vaccination. Therefore, the study aimed to identify the factors associated with allowing childhood vaccination in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study with an inferential descriptive quantitative approach, carried out with parents/guardians of children aged up to 1 year 11 months and 29 days, aged 18 years or older, with internet access and residents of Alagoas. Data collection was carried out online, using a structured instrument via google forms®. Data were tabulated using Microsoft Office Excel® and analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. As a dependent variable, a yes answer to the question: “Was the child you are responsible for vaccinated during the COVID-19 pandemic?” considered permission. To associate the variables, Fisher's Exact Test and Pearson's chi-square were used. Results: The study included 94 parents/guardians, with an average age of 29.36 years, of brown color/race (48.9%, n=46), graduate (28.7%, n=27), total family income of 5 minimum wages or more (34%, n=32), with responsibility for only one child under the age of two (95.7%, n=90), most of whom are mothers (87.2%, n=82 ). The children were aged between 0 months and 1 year (53.2%, n=50), with no link to a daycare/school (80.9%, n=76) and with an up-to-date vaccination card (96.8%, n=91). During the COVID-19 pandemic, most children were vaccinated (87.2%, n=82), accompanied by their mothers (97.6%, n=80), in the public network (74.4%, n= 61). There was a predominance of positive information heard/seen (90.4%, n=85), which prevents diseases (82.3%, n=70). Negative information (9.6%, n=9), which causes many reactions (100%, n=09). In the event that the COVID-19 vaccine was available for children, parents/guardians (79.8%, n=75) would vaccinate the child. Health professionals were responsible for disseminating positive information (78.8%, n=67) and friends/neighbors/relatives (in person) the negative information (88.8%, n=08). Regarding the association of sociodemographic variables with permission to vaccinate during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was statistical significance with education (p=0.018), with the child's educational background (p=0.010), and with vaccine availability of COVID-19 for the child (p=0.034). Conclusion: The factors associated with allowing child vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Alagoas are the education of the parents/guardians, the child's educational background and the possibility of vaccinating children against COVID-19.