The information level of parents about rotavirus gastroenteritis and rotavirus vaccine and the incidence of rotavirus vaccination in Ankara

The aim of the study was to determine the information level of parents about rotavirus gastroenteritis, rotavirus vaccine, and the incidence of rotavirus vaccination in Ankara. 500 patients with the age of more than 4 months who admitted to our outpatient clinic in 2010 and 2011 were included in this study. We asked parents whether they have any information about rotavirus gastroenteritis and rotavirus vaccine, and their children had the first dose of rotavirus vaccination or not. When the patients' answers were negative we asked for the reason. In 2010, of these 250 parents; 19,2% (48/250) had information about rotavirus gastroenteritis and rotavirus vaccine and 6,4% (16/250) had the first dose of rotavirus vaccination. The ratio of rotavirus vaccination among parents who had an information about rotavirus gastroenteritis and rotavirus vaccine was 33,3% (16/48). In 2011; 24,8% (62/250 ) of parents have information about rotavirus gastroenteritis and rotavirus vaccine; 10,4% (26/250) had the first dose of rotavirus vaccination and 41,9% (26/62) of parents who had information about rotavirus gastroenteritis and rotavirus vaccine had rotavirus vaccination. In 2010; nonconfidence for rotavirus vaccines (27,1%;13/48) and high costs (72,9%;35/48) and in 2011; non-confidence for rotavirus vaccines (17,7%;11/66) and high costs (82,3%;55/66) were the reasons of not having vaccinated. The information level of the parents about rotavirus gastroenteritis, rotavirus vaccine, and the incidence of rotavirus vaccination rates were low. To prevent rotavirus gastroenteritis, an important cause of diarrhea, parents should be informed about this vaccination and rotavirus vaccine should be taken into the national immunization program.