Parental knowledge of pneumococcal diseases and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines: A cross-sectional study in Immunization Clinic, Medical College, and Hospital, Kolkata

Background: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) had been introduced in National Immunization Schedule recently in West Bengal in view to prevent pneumococcal diseases mainly pneumonia and meningitis, which was a leading cause mortality and morbidity particularly in under 5 age group. Like all other health program, success of this initiative would be dependent on awareness level of beneficiaries. Aim and Objective: The present study aimed at estimating parenteral awareness level related to pneumococcal diseases and PCV. Materials and Methods: The observational and analytic study was conducted among parents of 404 children (who were eligible for PCV-1) attended in Immunization Clinic, Medical College, Kolkata. Sociodemographic parameters of families of study participants were elicited. Parenteral knowledge regarding pneumococcal diseases and PCV was assessed. Results: About 58.4% of parents neither had any awareness regarding pneumococcal diseases, nor had any idea related to PCV. Only 30.7% of parents had any knowledge regarding pneumococcal diseases and 31.7% had any awareness related to PCV. Maternal education, social class, and residence were found to significant predictor of parenteral knowledge both in unadjusted model as well as when adjusted with sociodemographic variables. Conclusion: As parenteral knowledge level in the present study was not satisfactory, more stress to be given in conducting awareness generation campaign for newly introduced PCV vaccine throughout the state in general, and in vulnerable urban areas particularly, where awareness among beneficiaries was significantly poorer.