Pediatrik Kanser Hastalarının Ebeveynlerinin Sürekli Kaygı Düzeyleri ve Aşı Karşıtlığı

Abstract

Cancer and cancer treatment in childhood cause decline or disappearance of vaccine antibodies.Childhood cancer survivors need revaccination for protection against life-threatening infections.In recent years anti-vaccination has become widespread.We aimed to investigate trait anxiety level and anti-vaccination in mothers of pediatric cancer patients. A descriptive questionnaire and State Trait Anxiety Inventory were conducted to mothers of 66 pediatric cancer patients who were under anticancer therapy.Anti-vaccination group defined as following:mothers who have revaccine hesitancy and refusal for their children after anticancer therapy and/or mothers who have vaccine hesitancy and refusal for sibling(s) of their children with cancer and/or mothers who have vaccine hesitancy and refusal for a newborn child in the event of giving birth to. Diagnosis were leucemia in 50%,lymphoma in 12.2%,brain tumor in 10.65%,solid tumors in 27.2% of patients.The most frequent information source that mothers consult about cancer and vaccines was health professionals.15% of mothers were in the opinion that vaccines may be carcinogenic,3% of mothers were in the opinion that previous vaccinations played a role in their childrens’ cancer and 22.7% of them were irresolute on this topic.The percentage of mothers who have revaccine hesitancy or refusal for their children after anticancer therapy was 12.1,the percentage of mothers who have vaccine hesitancy or refusal for sibling(s) of their children with cancer was 8.2,the percentage of mothers who have vaccine hesitancy or refusal for a newborn child in the event of giving birth to was 12.1. Fifteen (22.7%) mothers took part in the anti-vaccination group.Patients’ age,gender,diagnosis,parental ages,parental education levels,familial income levels,number of children in the family,frequency of consulting health professionals,and trait anxiety scores were statistically similar between the groups with anti-vaccination and vaccination acceptance (p>0.05). Larger sample sized and comprehensive searches are required to achieve revaccination and protect childhood cancer survivors from anti-vaccination movement.