Rotavirus Vaccine, Knowledge and Practice of Parents and Caregivers in a Teaching Hospital in Southeast Nigeria

Introduction: Diarrhoeal disease is the second leading cause of death in children under five years old. Rotavirus and Escherichia coli, are the two most common etiological agents of moderate-to-severe diarrhoea in low-income countries. Therefore, rotavirus vaccination is pivotal in the prevention of severe forms diarrhoea disease. The vaccine is yet to be adopted to be given for free in Nigeria and costs about $20 (N7, 000) per dose.

Objectives: This study, which is a pre-intervention study, aimed at understanding the knowledge, perception and practices of parents about rotavirus vaccination and also educate the parents about the vaccine in a tertiary hospital setting in an Eastern State of Nigeria

Methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, 186 caregivers of children who came to the children outpatient clinic were enrolled. A researcher administered questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge and practice of parents about rotavirus vaccine. The parents who did not know about the vaccine where also educated on the vaccine and when it’s given.

Result: The mean age of respondents was 33.4years, 83% were mothers and the rest fathers. On knowledge, 76.9% of the respondents didn’t know about rotavirus vaccine. Also as regards practice, 91.9% of the respondents did not vaccinate their children and of them, 21% did not vaccinate because of the cost of the vaccine. 152 (81.7%) of parents said they will like to vaccinate their children and 64.5 % agreed to do so even if they will have to pay for it with only 36.6% of the parents saying they will not be willing to pay

Conclusion: Majority of the parents didn’t know about the rotavirus vaccine as a means of preventing diarrhoea and were excited to hear about the vaccine, its cost and when it is given. This emphasizes the need for more awareness about the vaccine.