Abstract
The aim of this study was to survey the awareness of people in developing countries regarding the use of pediatric vaccines, in order to achieve more general child vaccination and increase vaccination rates in those countries. In Cambodia's X City, general guardians and staff practicing pediatric medicine who attend to children under the age of five were surveyed on their familiarity with disease names and their awareness of the importance of 10 types of childhood vaccines recommended by the WHO. Fifty responses were obtained, giving a 100% valid response rate. The results showed good familiarity with BCG, polio, DPT, measles, and hepatitis B vaccines, but poor familiarity with Hib, rubella, rota and pneumococcus, and HPV vaccines. Staff at A Hospital and general guardians showed significant differences in awareness of DPT, measles, Hib, pediatric pneumococcus, rotavirus, and HPV. The vaccination coverage rate for BCG, hepatitis B, polio, DPT, and measles vaccine was high, whereas it was low and fee-based for rubella, pediatric pneumococcus, and rotavirus. To increase the vaccination coverage rate, a fuller knowledge of diseases and vaccines needs to be gained, and the importance of this knowledge needs to be recognized. In regions with low literacy rates, effective campaigns will be needed that provide education through means other than the written word.
