Ayşe Gülsen TEKER, Hacer Nur YÜCE, Çağla Evrim ERKAL, Gonca SAĞLAM, Ayşe ÇATAR, Yasemin UÇAR, Selma YILMAZ, Şükran YÜCEDAL AKLAN
The Journal of Pediatric Research - 2026;13(1):23-30
Aim: In Türkiye, vaccine hesitancy has been increasing, with a growing number of parents refusing childhood vaccinations. Understanding the underlying factors of this issue is essential for designing effective interventions. This study aimed to investigate the reasons underlying childhood vaccine hesitancy among parents in Antalya, Türkiye. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 172 parents in Antalya who refused at least one childhood vaccine in 2023. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered via phone interviews. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were performed. In addition, responses to open-ended questions about their reasons for refusal were grouped thematically. Results: Among the participants, 59.9% had a university-level education, and 69.8% of respondents were mothers. The most common themes influencing hesitancy included perceived adverse events following vaccination, misinformation from social media, and distrust in vaccine contents. A significant proportion (87.8%) stated that the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) period negatively affected their trust in vaccines. Mothers were significantly more resistant to positive change compared to fathers (p=0.015). Parents aged 34 years and younger were also more resistant to positive change than older parents (p=0.044). Conclusion: This study highlights that vaccine hesitancy in Antalya is strongly influenced by misinterpretations of adverse events, misinformation originating from social media, and distrust regarding vaccine components. Targeted education on vaccine safety, efforts to address COVID-19 related misinformation, and greater involvement of the fathers in vaccination decisions may help reduce hesitancy. Importantly, while social media is a major driver of misinformation, it may also serve as a powerful tool to strengthen public health communication and awareness.
