IMPLEMENTATION AND ROLE OF HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM IN IMPROVING THE KNOWELEGE ABOUT VACCINATION AMONG THE MOTHERS OF UNDER FIVE YEARS OLD CHILDREN IN ERBIL GOVERNORATE

Parents' attitudes and degree of information surrounding child immunization may have an impact on how they practice. Deficiency of information about vaccinations, low levels of awareness or unfavorable attitudes about vaccinations, and false beliefs or rumors about the safety of vaccinations is major barriers to achieving high vaccination rates in children. To assess the level of knowledge about immunization among parents and to assess the role of an educational program in improving the knowledge of a selected group of parents with low level of knowledge. A quasi-experimental study (pre and post educational program) was carried out on 50 women who were selected from urban and rural areas of Erbil governorate, Kurdistan, Iraq to participate in the educational program. The questionnaire was developed by the researcher. The data were analyzed by SPSS, version 26, software. A p-value of 0.05 was considered, statistically significant. Chi square test of association (or Fishers exact test) was used to compare proportions. The majority (88.6%) of the mothers mentioned that family, mother, or mother-in-law are the source of first information about vaccination. Mothers in Erbil governorate had medium knowledge score before the program. There was development in the knowledge level of them after the implementation of health education program and all of them had high knowledge after the program. There was improvement in the knowledge level of them after the implementation of health education program, and all of them had high knowledge after the program therefore, consistent health education sessions and reminders among mothers will solve the problems of immunization.