ROTAVIRUS VACCINE IMPLEMENTATION IN GEORGIA - IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE, APPROACH, AND PRACTICES OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Vaccinology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Rotavirus (RV) is a leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children globally, responsible for significant mortality.
• In Georgia, rotavirus diarrhea caused an estimated 10-50 deaths annually in young children (WHO, 2008).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate healthcare workers' (HCWs) knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding rotavirus diarrhea and the rotavirus vaccine.
• To identify factors influencing HCW support for rotavirus vaccine adoption in Georgia.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted by the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) among HCWs in the expanded program of immunization (EPI).
• HCWs were selected using simple random sampling, and data were collected via hand-delivered questionnaires.

Main Results:

• While most HCWs recognized diarrhea as a common childhood illness, over half did not fully agree that rotavirus is the primary cause.
• Perceptions of no specific need for the RV vaccine in Georgia, lack of awareness of the disease burden in developing countries, and safety concerns significantly increased the likelihood of HCWs not supporting RV vaccine adoption.
• Concerns about vaccine safety, low awareness of RV disease burden and vaccine effectiveness, and poor communication skills were key predictors of lower RV vaccine uptake among HCWs.

Conclusions:

• Targeted interventions are crucial to enhance HCW understanding of rotavirus epidemiology and vaccine effectiveness.
• Addressing safety concerns and improving communication strategies are essential for promoting rotavirus vaccine acceptance and uptake among healthcare professionals.