Adverse events and health literacy as barriers to childhood immunization in Peru

Objectives: To determine whether the level of health literacy and adverse post-vaccination events (AEFI) against COVID-19 experienced by parents are barriers to childhood vaccination in Ayacucho. Methods: Cross-sectional predictive level study, conducted in 2022. The analysis was performed using Poisson family generalized lineal models (GLM) and crude (cPR) and adjusted (aPR) prevalence ratios were estimated. Results: The sample included 128 parents of children between 5 and 11 years of age. A total of 90.6% of the parents received the vaccine, compared to 64.2% of their children. The incidence of AEFI was higher in adults 62.9% than in children 37.1%, the most frequent being pain at the injection site and fever. Although the level of literacy about COVID-19 and vaccines was adequate, it was poor with respect to AEFI. Multivariable analysis estimated greater hesitancy to childhood vaccination in previously vaccinated parents (RPa = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.14–0.99; p-value = 0.048) and in those with low literacy about AEFI (RPa = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.50–0.76; p-value < 0.001). Conclusions: In addition, the AEFI experienced by adults and the low level of health literacy constitute significant barriers to childhood immunization, which reaffirms the need to strengthen health education and reduce vaccine hesitancy.