Knowledge and practices among healthcare professionals regarding measles vaccination: is there a gap?
 
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Preventive Department, Taher Sfar Hospital, Tunisia
 
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Taher Sfar hospital, Tunisia
 
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Taher Sfar Hospital, Tunisia
 
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Souk Lahad Hospital, Tunisia
 
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Hedi Chaker Hospital, Tunisia
 
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preventive department,Taher Sfar hospital, Tunisia
 
 
Publication date: 2023-04-27
 
 
Popul. Med. 2023;5(Supplement):A2057
 
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Measles is a highly contagious disease. As part of the measles vaccination (MV) campaign that was conducted in our country among young adults. We aimed to assess the perception and knowledge among Tunisian health professionals (HC) with regard to MV. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among HC, in Tunisian hospitals, during the months of January and February 2022. The measurement tool was a self-administered questionnaire or online via Google Forms. Results: A total of 112 healthcare workers responded to the questionnaire, including 82% of women. Medical staff accounted for 83% of responders. The average age was 30 ± 2.95 years. Fifty-two percent scored average on questions assessing knowledge of measles infection and vaccine. Among them, the correct answers were: measles infection is dangerous (60.7%), those vaccinated can transmit the virus to others (54.5%) and the vaccine against measles protects against severe forms (91.1%). Two-thirds of HC responded that the vaccine does not cause measles. The correct answers on the long duration of protection of the vaccine and on its variable effectiveness from one person to another were 75% and 77.7%, respectively. Regarding attitudes, 85.7% said they should be vaccinated against germs they risk transmitting to their patients. Almost two thirds of responders had a moral responsibility to get MV (62.5%) and 91% were for the vaccination against contagious diseases including measles. Although most of the answers were for MV, only 35% of the responders were willing to vaccinate. The main reasons for vaccination were the protection of family members and of patients (35.6%) and the protection of oneself (33.70%). Conclusions: Despite the good knowledge level, measles vaccine is not sufficiently accepted among healthcare providers. Awareness campaigns should be organised to encourage young people to vaccinate.
ISSN:2654-1459
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