Determinants of vaccine hesitancy among parents: A cross-sectional analytical study.

Abstract

Objective: To determine frequency and socio-demographic determinants of vaccine hesitancy among parents visiting a tertiary care hospital in Bahawalpur. Study Design: Analytical Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Pediatric Outpatient, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. Period: March 2025 to December 2025. Methods: A total of 151 parents who have children between 6 months and 2 years were included. Non-probability consecutive sampling method was used to enroll participants. Data was collected by using structured questionnaire that included the Parental Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines scale. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to find out the factors for vaccine hesitancy after controlling for any potential confounding variables. SPSS version 23.0 was used for analysis. Results: The overall frequency of vaccine hesitancy was 18.5%. Parents with low trust in healthcare providers had 4.2 times higher odds of hesitancy. Reliance on social media (AOR=3.8), primary-level education (AOR=3.1), and history of adverse events following immunization (AOR=2.9) were independently associated with hesitant attitudes. Socioeconomic status and parental age showed no significant association. Conclusion: Vaccine hesitancy is driven primarily by psychological and informational factors rather than access barriers. Interventions must prioritize rebuilding provider parent trust, combating digital misinformation and enhancing health literacy among populations.