An Analysis of Parental Refusing to Child Immunization: A Study of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the parental refusing to child immunization in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Data were collected from district Peshawar province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The data were collected from 370 respondents through close ended questionnaire by using purposive sampling technique. Furthermore, a Cronbach alpha test was carried out for checking the reliability of the tool which stood 0.72. The results show that routine immunization is very weak. Parents do not allow their children to be vaccinated for multiple reasons such as vaccination and immunization being unsafe and effective, violating religious beliefs, and worrying about the spread of HIV/other infectious diseases. Fear leads to infertility, which is harmful to our children. Not safe, worried about Western conspiracy, my doctor advised me not to vaccinate your child, and the decision making power is the father of the child, they refuse, they do not allow their child to be vaccinated. This will serve as a catalyst to dispel fears, misconceptions, myths and other fabricated stories in the minds of local residents.