How Religious and Cultural Doctrines Affect Child Vaccination: An Analysis of Parents’ Understanding of Child Vaccination in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

In developing countries, children die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases. This study examines the public’s understanding of vaccination and the impact of social pressures and religious influences on parents who avoid vaccinating their children. Results showed that the illiteracy of the population endangers the safety of health workers in the form of terrorist attacks during vaccination campaigns. In addition, the concept of banned substances in vaccines has influenced the vaccination of children. Moreover, senior religious leaders supported the vaccination campaign, while opponents faced public pressure to vaccinate their children.

KEYWORDS:

• Child vaccination
• diseases
• health care
• immunization
• vaccination

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all respondents who filled out the research questionnaire during a critical COVID-19 situation, without whose participation the research would have been impossible.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).