A Study to Raise Awareness Among Parents About Receiving the BCG Vaccine for Tuberculosis in Newborns and Statistics on the Number of Children who Received the Vaccine During the Period 2023-2024 In Al-Khums City

الملخص

Childhood vaccinations save an estimated millions of newborns worldwide, significantly contributing to the reduction of global child mortality rates. The BCG vaccine, which protects against tuberculosis, contains live Mycobacterium bovis bacteria and is a fundamental part of immunization programs in many countries. This study aims to raise awareness among parents about the importance of administering the BCG vaccine to newborns, assess their understanding of the importance of timely vaccination, determine the relationship between BCG vaccination and the incidence of tuberculosis in children, and ultimately improve public health and reduce neonatal mortality in Libya. The results of the introductory study, conducted in Al-Khums and its surrounding areas with a sample of 150 newborns who received the vaccine within a period of no more than one and a half weeks, showed that 67% of parents were aware of the vaccine, while 33% were not. Furthermore, 60% of the total sample knew it was a vaccine against tuberculosis, 8% knew it contained live bacteria, and 32% were unaware of the vaccine. The results showed that 94% of the parents in the sample knew that the vaccine was given to newborns, a high percentage indicating awareness of the BCG vaccine compared to those who were unaware (4%), and those who were unaware (2%). The results also indicated that a high percentage of the sample (78%) knew that illnesses could affect vaccination, such as skin infections, immune system problems, and fever. Additionally, 51% of the study sample knew how to administer the vaccine, and 63% were aware that tuberculosis is a lung disease. The results also showed that 24% of children vaccinated with the BCG vaccine experienced side effects such as vomiting and skin allergies, while 76% did not. Furthermore, 82% of the parents in the sample administered the vaccine to their children on schedule, and the majority (76%) of those who were late in administering the vaccine (within a week) cited its unavailability at health centers as the reason for their delay. The statistical study results showed that the number of people who visited health centers in Al-Khums and received the vaccine during the periods 2023-2024 was 7,327 and 7,976, respectively. These numbers are relatively close, with some variation between months. This variation is attributed to fluctuations in the number of births, unlike December, which saw zero vaccinations during both years due to vaccine unavailability.