Report: Parental Knowledge Regarding Influenza Vaccination in Malaysia

This report presents an assessment of parental knowledge regarding influenza vaccination in Bandar Mutiara, Sungai Petani, Malaysia. The study investigates parental awareness, knowledge gaps, and attitudes towards influenza vaccination. It includes a problem statement highlighting the need to improve awareness, especially among less educated and low-income parents. The conceptual definitions of key terms such as 'assessment,' 'knowledge,' 'parental,' 'influenza disease,' 'vaccination,' and 'resident' are provided. The research objectives aim to analyze parental knowledge, address knowledge gaps, and propose measures for improvement. Research questions focus on the extent of parental knowledge, approaches to address knowledge deficiencies, data collection and analysis methods, and strategies to improve knowledge. The significance of the study lies in its potential to assess awareness, understand prevalent scenarios, and provide insights for healthcare infrastructure. The literature review explores existing research on parental knowledge, vaccination rates, and the impact of education and location on awareness. The research methodology includes a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study design. Operational definitions are provided for key terms, and the importance of pilot studies, validity, and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) are discussed. The study aims to contribute to public health by providing insights for targeted interventions to increase influenza vaccination rates and improve child health outcomes.

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An assessment of parental knowledge regarding Influenza Vaccination in selected
residential area, Malaysia.

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Table of Contents
Chapter 1....................................................................................................................................3
Problem statement..................................................................................................................3
Conceptual definition.............................................................................................................3
Assessment.........................................................................................................................3
Knowledge.........................................................................................................................3
Parental...............................................................................................................................3
Influenza disease................................................................................................................4
Vaccination........................................................................................................................4
Resident..............................................................................................................................4
Research objectives............................................................................................................4
Research questions.............................................................................................................5
Significance........................................................................................................................5
Chapter 2....................................................................................................................................7
Literature review....................................................................................................................7
Theoretical framework...........................................................................................................9
Summary of literature review...............................................................................................11
Chapter 3: Research Methodology...........................................................................................13
Research Design.......................................................................................................................13
Operational Definition.............................................................................................................13
Pilot Study................................................................................................................................15
Validity and Reliability of the Study.......................................................................................15
References................................................................................................................................17

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Chapter 1
Problem statement
Bandar Mutiara, Sungai Petani, Malaysia has a huge awareness amongst parents in
terms of influenza vaccination as far as the benefits in terms of health care are concerned
accordingly. However, awareness needs to be raised amongst those parents who are not
educated to a high level along with the ones who are low on income. The awareness if spread
in an effective manner by engaging all kinds of residents would lead to the desired results
amongst the residents of Bandar Mutiara accordingly. In this regard, the strategies need to be
adopted in a planned manner considering the time and costs.
Conceptual definition
Assessment
The conceptual definition of assessment implies the evaluation and analysis of any
scenario in a detailed manner that would facilitate the ease of the gathering of all the relevant
information as far as the synthesis is concerned. It would also help in the formulation of
suggestions in terms of the improvements to be made for the better results pertaining to the
scenario assessed accordingly. The assessment of knowledge of parents regarding influenza
vaccine would help in the steps to be undertaken for the increase in awareness accordingly.
Knowledge
The conceptual definition of knowledge would imply the awareness amongst people
regarding the particular subject area at the desired level. It involves the clear understanding of
the theories and concepts regarding the subject area along with its applicability in various
spheres accordingly in order to achieve the desired results accordingly. It also involves
specialism or expertise in the particular subject area or branch of the particular subject area
accordingly. Knowledge can also be defined as the ability of gathering and analysing
information regarding a particular subject area along with the drawing of inferences
accordingly.
Parental
The conceptual definition of parental would imply the impact of parents upon children
in various aspects as far as the maintenance of lifestyles is concerned along with the conduct
of parents that lead to the influence on children to a huge extent. It also implies the learning

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and well-being of children as a result of the actions undertaken by the parents accordingly.
The concept pertaining to parental can also be defined as the engagement of parents in
activities relating to their children as far as the welfare is concerned in the long run
accordingly in addition to the enhancement of communication between parents and their
children regarding various aspects.
Influenza disease
The concept relating to influenza disease implies the viral attack that leads to the
issues in the respiratory system of a person as far as the affecting of health is concerned
thereby resulting in fever. It also implies the rise in body temperature of person to a
considerable level for which medication or other relevant form of diagnosis at the earliest is
necessary for treatment in an effective manner. It would also include dizziness and feeling of
abnormality in various levels thereby requiring diagnosis accordingly as recommended by the
concerned health care professional.
Vaccination
The administration of a vaccine with regard to the treatment of a particular disease in
an effective manner in terms of the aiding of the immune system to develop protection
against such disease implies the conceptual definition of vaccination accordingly. It further
implies the prevention of spreading of a particular infectious disease as far as the addressing
of the health issue of the person in question in an effective manner is concerned accordingly.
It is administered through the injecting of a killed micro-organism in order to curtail the
occurring of the disease accordingly as far as prevention in an effective manner is concerned.
Resident
The concept of resident is defined as the person who is an inhabitant of a particular
area or locality in terms of staying temporarily or permanently. A resident can either be the
owner of the house or a tenant accordingly. It can also imply the inhabitant of a dwelling with
regard to households in a community. It basically implies the person living in a particular
place in any form for a considerable period legally regarding the bearing of address as a part
of personal details in terms of identity.
Research objectives
 To analyse the knowledge of parents regarding influenza vaccine in the residential
area of Bandar Mutiara

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 To address the issues regarding the lack of knowledge amongst parents in the
residential area of Bandar Mutiara accordingly
 To analyse the scenario of the residential area regarding influenza vaccine and infer
as to what extent the knowledge amongst the parents need to be spread
 To collect and analyse the relevant data in an effective manner
 To undertake the necessary measures and steps for improving the knowledge of
parents regarding influenza vaccine
Research questions
 What is the extent of the knowledge possessed by parents of Bandar Mutiara in terms
of vaccination for influenza?
 How can the issues pertaining to the lack of knowledge of the parents of Bandar
Mutiara be addressed in an appropriate manner?
 What are the approaches to be undertaken to conduct the analysis regarding
vaccination for influenza as far as the knowledge of parents in Bandar Mutiara is
concerned?
 How would the data be collected and analysed for the conducting of the research in an
effective manner?
 What would be the measures and steps in terms of the improvement of knowledge of
the parents regarding influenza vaccine at Bandar Mutiara?
Significance
The study would help in the analysis of the concept of vaccination for influenza in a
detailed manner. It would also facilitate for the assessment in terms of the awareness amongst
parents regarding influenza vaccine in an in-depth manner as far as the extent is concerned. It
would also aid in the knowing of the scenario prevalent in the residential area of Bandar
Mutiara in a proper manner in addition to the infrastructure regarding healthcare accordingly.
It would widen the knowledge regarding influenza to a considerable level.
It would also help in the examination of the attitudes of the parents regarding
influenza vaccine as far as Bandar Mutiara is concerned that would lead to the steps and
measures to be undertaken in terms of the achievement of the desired objectives and goals
accordingly. The reasonable inferences would be drawn as far as the reluctance pertaining to
vaccination amongst parents in Bandar Mutiara is concerned that would help in the

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assessment of their knowledge pertaining to the same in a detailed manner as far as their
perspectives are concerned (Toh et al., 2019). In this regard, the action relating to the
spreading of awareness amongst the parents would be taken into consideration as far as the
initiatives of the respective health care professionals are concerned that would lead to the
desired results. The study would analyse the relevant literature that would help in the gaining
of knowledge regarding influenza vaccine as parental awareness is concerned taking account
of Bandar Mutiara accordingly. In this regard, the strategies regarding the improvement of
knowledge amongst the parents would be formulated and implemented in a planned manner
accordingly by analysing the scenario prevalent in Bandar Mutiara in a detailed manner as far
as the beneficial results are concerned. The study would aid in the delving into the aspects
concerning influenza vaccination in Bandar Mutiara in a proper manner as far as the
awareness amongst parents is concerned. As a result, it would lead to the effective results in
terms of the analysis in an in-depth manner accordingly.
The study would also widen the scope for conducting research and analysis in related
disciplines in an extensive manner thereby acting as a guiding tool in the form of a source. It
would also provide the scope and opportunities for future research analysts and enthusiasts to
conduct analysis in related areas in an effective manner as far as the desired outcomes are
concerned accordingly. As a result, a proper platform for research would be provided for
future research analysts and enthusiasts through the study. It would help in the drawing of
various kinds of inferences in terms of healthcare as far as its importance is concerned taking
account of influenza vaccination accordingly. It would also help in the impartment of
knowledge amongst parents regarding the same as far as the necessity is concerned
accordingly by assessing the level of knowledge to be incorporated taking into consideration
the scenario prevalent in Bandar Mutiara (Balbir Singh et al., 2019). The study holds a huge
significance regarding the addressing of problems relating to healthcare that would help in
the increase in awareness amongst parents in Bandar Mutiara as far as influenza vaccine is
concerned with reference to the beneficial results accordingly. In a nutshell, the study would
help in the improvement of knowledge along with the attitude of people in Bandar Mutiara to
a considerable level as far as the purported results are concerned that would help in the
undertaking of the required measures accordingly.

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Chapter 2
Literature review
As observed by Aziz et al. (2018), it has been observed that the parents who are
educated at huge level are aware about vaccination regarding diseases like influenza in
comparison to the ones who are not in possession of the adequate knowledge accordingly.
Such a study has also implied that the proper information being provided to the parents leads
to the effective results in terms of immunisation as far as the desired results are concerned in
terms of healthcare of children taking account of the scenario in Bandar Mutiara, the
residential area of Sungai Petani, Malaysia. It is also observed that the parents residing in
urban areas such as Bandar Mutiara posses’ knowledge regarding vaccination than the ones
living in the rural areas taking account of the infrastructure relating to healthcare prevalent
accordingly. In addition to the laxity of knowledge, the reluctance of parents in Bandar
Mutiara also acts as hindrance with regard to vaccination for their children in terms of
influenza as observed from the study accordingly. The possession of wrong information by
parents also leads to mistakes in terms of immunization as far as influenza is concerned. For
example, there are parents in Bandar Mutiara who hold perceptions that influenza is not a
major illness for which vaccination is required. It would lead to the detrimental outcomes in
terms of the overall physical health of the children accordingly.
It is opined by Ahmad et al. (2017) that the immunization of children in terms of
influenza and other related preventable diseases is not up to the required threshold as far as
completeness is concerned. The main reason in this regard is the not only the lack of
awareness amongst parents but also the attitudes towards immunization as far as the
perceptions being held by parents are concerned. Such an aspect is not only in Bandar
Mutiara in particular but also Malaysia in general. The study found that the lack of
completion on terms of vaccination against diseases like influenza is prevalent in urban areas
like Bandar Mutiara to a considerable level. However, highly educated parents were more
aware about immunisation and vaccination against influenza and other diseases in
comparison to the people with low levels of education as observed from the study
accordingly. Issues such as beliefs regarding safety of the vaccines also implied the laxity in
terms of immunisation and vaccination as far as the trust of vaccines by parents is concerned
accordingly. Therefore, it has been observed that incomplete vaccination against influenza
amongst children due to lack of parental awareness can lead to health complications thereby
worsening the conditions of children to a considerable level. It is also imperative that the

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completion regarding influenza vaccination should be ensured by the healthcare professionals
in a proper manner.
Chan et al. (2016) has observed that in the recent past, there have been changes in the
attitudes of the parents who are residents of Bandar Mutiara taking account of the Malaysian
state of Kedah where the city of Sungai Petani is located. It has been observed from the
study that the perceptions in terms of religion with reference to the refusal of vaccination for
infants reduced amongst the mothers in the four year period from 2013 to 2016. There are
efforts being made in order to spread awareness amongst parents in residential areas of Kedah
such as Bandar Mutiara regarding the importance of vaccination as far as immunisation is
concerned with reference to the protection against diseases like influenza is concerned. In this
regard, the strategies are being framed and implemented in a planned manner with regard to
the vaccination of maximum infants in Bandar Mutiara as far as the impartment of knowledge
amongst the parents is concerned accordingly. In this regard, the key role has been played by
the State Health Department of Kedah in terms of the spreading of awareness to the
maximum level (Azizi, Kew & Moy, 2017). As a result, there has been a shift regarding
perceptions held by the parents in a considerable manner as far as the desired results are
concerned as far as the doing away with prejudicial views in terms of influenza vaccination is
concerned.
Wong, Wong & Abu Bakr (2020) have opined that the health professionals are
playing an important role in the addressing of the issues pertaining to the refusal of parents to
get their children vaccinated against diseases like influence due to the prevalence of stigmas
in terms of social cultural and religious beliefs as far as prohibition is concerned accordingly.
The negative perceptions towards vaccines also contributed to such kind of refusal as
observed from the study with regard to Malaysia that includes Bandar Mutiara accordingly.
The study is aimed at the elimination of perceptions amongst parents regarding refusal of
vaccination for their children accordingly through the inculcation of the appropriate
knowledge in terms of the positive outcomes regarding vaccination accordingly. Such a
study implies the steps and measures to be undertaken for the increase in awareness amongst
parents regarding vaccination against influenza as far as the scenario in Bandar Mutiara and
related residential areas is concerned with reference to the intervention strategies being
formulated and executed in a planned manner as far as targeting in an effective manner is
concerned. In this regard, the aspect of compulsory vaccination of children has been taken

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into consideration as far as the initiatives of healthcare professionals are concerned with
regard to parental awareness.
Theoretical framework
It is imperative from the scenario of Bandar Mutiara taking account of the aforesaid
relevant literature that spreading of awareness is necessary amongst parents who do not
possess adequate knowledge regarding vaccination to develop immunity against influenza as
far as the development of healthcare in a considerable manner is concerned. It is also
observed that the steps and measures need to be undertaken with respect of the addressing of
the problem regarding hesitance of parents regarding vaccination for influenza that would
help in the healthcare and welfare of children in a considerable manner (Rasoal, Skovdahl,
Gifford & Kihlgren, 2017). The concept regarding healthcare ethics need to be taken into
account for the addressing of the problem in an effective manner as far as the ethical theories
are concerned that would help in the desired outcomes in terms of the conducting and
undertaking of the research and analysis of parents knowledge levels regarding influenza
vaccination and imparting them with the knowledge regarding the necessity of vaccination in
terms of influenza accordingly (Krause and Boldt, 2017). As a result, it is imperative that the
following of ethics would be quite effective with reference to the resolution of issues relating
to influenza vaccination awareness amongst parents.
The psychological theory would also be helpful in the identification of the knowledge
levels of parents regarding influenza vaccination as far as the attitudes and perceptions are
concerned (Ferguson, 2018). In this regard, the behavioural aspects pertaining to beliefs
regarding healthcare would be quite helpful in the drawing of conclusions taking account of
the residential area of Bandar Mutiara that would help in the application of the approaches
regarding behavioural frameworks for the improvement in the attitudes of parents in a drastic
manner as implied form the literature above. As a result, the awareness regarding influenza
vaccination would be spread in a drastic manner amongst the parents who are lacking the
knowledge pertaining to the beneficial results of influenza vaccination accordingly (Rawwas,
Javed, Iyer & Zhao, 2019). It would also help in the increase in the rates pertaining to
influenza vaccination in Bandar Mutiara in a significant manner that would lead to the
development of healthcare to a considerable level accordingly as far as the infrastructure in
terms of health is concerned in addition to the programmes concerning influenza vaccination
is concerned which would lead to the spreading of information regarding the importance of

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vaccination regarding influenza in a drastic manner accordingly as far as the modifications of
the perspectives of the parents is concerned.
The conspiracy theory is also an important determinant regarding the negative
perceptions held by parents in terms of influenza vaccination. It is observed that there are
apprehensions of parents with regard to refusal in terms of influenza in terms of societal
norms along with various aspects pertaining to religion and cultural accordingly (Panatto,
Amicizia, Arata, Lai & Gasparini, 2018). Such kinds of theories would lead to the negative
impact pertaining to children’s health in the long run as far as the residential area of Bandar
Mutiara is concerned accordingly. The laxity in trust is one of the important factors regard the
refusal of parents to get their children vaccinated as mentioned earlier. As a result, the parents
are to be briefed in a proper manner regarding the efficiency of the vaccines along with its
positive outcomes in terms of health and welfare of their children in an extensive manner as
far as the decrease in the hesitancy in terms of vaccination is concerned. In this regard,
parents who are not educated to a high level are to be emphasised upon in a significant
manner accordingly. The religious myths are to be eliminated in terms of vaccination along
with the addressing of the social and cultural issues with regard to transition of attitudes in
terms of the conspiracy theory.
The protection motivation theory would be quite helpful in terms of the elimination of
the apprehensions concerning influenza vaccination amongst parents residing in Bandar
Mutiara as far as the addressing of issues regarding the same in an effective manner is
concerned (Hussain, 2018). As a result, it would help in the development positive perceptions
regarding influenza vaccination amongst the parents as far as the effective results are
concerned with reference to the improvement in infrastructure relating to healthcare
accordingly. The theory would help in the clarification of information amongst the parents of
Bandar Mutiara in an extensive manner that would lead to the increase in rates concerning
influenza vaccination in the residential are in a drastic manner as far as the elimination of
threats concerning the safety of vaccines is concerned along with the eradication of the
prohibitions supposedly imposed by religion culture and society as discussed earlier through
the relevant literature accordingly (Gualano et al., 2019). As a result, the protection
motivation theory is of utmost importance with respect to the addressing of issues regarding
the beliefs held by parents in terms of vaccination as far as influenza is concerned.

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Summary of literature review
It has been analysed through the relevant literature that the people who are not
educated to a high level and are entangled into beliefs regarding religion, culture and society
need to be briefed in an effective manner as far as the spreading of awareness is concerned
taking account of the residential area of Bandar Mutiara that would help in the positive
outcomes in terms of improvement in healthcare in the area accordingly. In this regard, the
attitudes of the parents are to be moulded in a manner that would aid in the transition in a
drastic manner as far as the impartment of knowledge regarding influenza vaccination is
concerned taking account of the health benefits accordingly. The literature also implies that
the awareness regarding the safety of the vaccine needs to be spread in an extensive manner
taking account of the importance of vaccination against influenza as far as the beneficial
outcomes are concerned with reference to the parents of Bandar Mutiara. It is also observed
from the literature that the strategies are to be undertaken with regard to the spreading of
awareness in Bandar Mutiara in an effective manner that would help in the instilling of
positive beliefs regarding influenza vaccination accordingly.
The literature also implies the aspect of healthcare regarding influenza vaccination in
a detailed manner that would help in the improvement in the health of children in a drastic
manner if the vaccine is administered in the correct manner along with the spreading of
awareness amongst the parents to a significant extent. It would lead to the increase in the
rates concerning vaccination regarding influenza to a certain level. The literature also implies
that the key role would be played by healthcare professionals that would help in the transition
of beliefs amongst the parents in Bandar Mutiara in an extensive manner. It is also imperative
from the literature that the undertaking of adequate measures would help in the favourable
outcomes in terms of influenza vaccination taking account of the level of knowledge
possessed by the parents accordingly through evaluation and assessment in a detailed manner
accordingly. It is also imperative that the regular programmes regarding vaccination would be
quite helpful in terms of the promotion of healthcare to a considerable level taking account of
the scenario of Bandar Mutiara even though the majority of the population knows about the
benefits of influenza vaccination accordingly.
It has also been inferred from the literature regarding various theories pertaining to
the vaccination with regard to influenza. Such theories imply the psychological theory, the
ethical theory, and the conspiracy theory along with the protection motivation theory
accordingly. As a result, the theories when applied would help in the resolution of the issues

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concerning influenza vaccine in an effective manner as far as the spreading of awareness
amongst parents is concerned along with the organisation of programmes relating to the
influenza vaccination for children in an extensive manner accordingly. Therefore, the theories
are of utmost importance regarding the addressing of the issues pertaining to the reluctance of
parents with respect to the influenza vaccination as far as Bandar Mutiara is concerned. It
would also help in the improvement in the knowledge of parents in a significant manner that
would lead to the beneficial results as far as the long run is concerned. It is also observed that
action pertaining to influenza vaccination accordingly. As a result, the theories would also aid
in the elimination of beliefs regarding the negative aspects of influenza vaccination
accordingly.
It can be deduced from the literary sources that the parents need to be engaged in
briefing sessions by the concerned health care professionals with respect to the benefits of
influenza vaccine taking account of Bandar Mutiara accordingly. As a result, it would help in
the derivation of the effective results as far as health care is concerned. The key role has to be
played by the health care professionals in a strategic manner that would lead to the beneficial
outcomes regarding the rise in awareness amongst parents in terms of influenza vaccine as far
as Bandar Mutiara even though majority of the parents know about influenza vaccine
considering the assessment of their knowledge on an average basis in addition to the factors
concerning religion, society and culture which lead to prohibitions in form of various kinds of
myths regarding the refusal for vaccination as far as influenza is concerned. As a result, the
literature analysed has implied that the measures and steps have been undertaken for the
eradication of such beliefs in a drastic manner as far as the initiatives of the health officials
are concerned. However, such beliefs are yet to be eliminated completely with regard to
awareness amongst parents taking account of Bandar Mutiara as far as the achievement of the
goals and objectives are concerned.