The Effect of Education Provided in Primary Health Care Services on Vaccine Hesitancy, Digital Vaccine Literacy, Eco-Anxiety, and Perceived Vulnerability to Diseases Among Parents of Children Aged 0-2 Years

Childhood vaccination is one of the most effective and cost-efficient public health interventions for preventing infectious diseases. However, vaccine hesitancy among parents has emerged as a significant public health concern, particularly in the context of misinformation disseminated through digital media. Parents' attitudes toward vaccination are influenced not only by face-to-face communication with health professionals but also by their ability to access, evaluate, and use vaccine-related information from online sources. In addition, environmental concerns and climate-related health risks have increased levels of eco-anxiety, which may influence individuals' perceptions of vulnerability to diseases and health-related decision-making.

This study is designed as a quasi-experimental, pre-test-post-test, control-group study to evaluate the effect of a structured education program delivered in primary health care services on parents of children aged 0-2 years. The study will be conducted at a Family Health Center in Van, Türkiye. Parents who meet the inclusion criteria and provide written informed consent will be enrolled in the study.

Participants will be assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Parents in the intervention group will receive a structured education program consisting of three face-to-face sessions delivered once per week, with each session lasting approximately 30-40 minutes. The education program includes: (1) childhood vaccines, vaccine hesitancy, and common misconceptions; (2) digital vaccine literacy, reliable information sources, and coping with misinformation; and (3) eco-anxiety, environmental health concerns, perceived vulnerability to diseases, and coping strategies. The control group will receive routine services provided by the Family Health Center and will not receive any additional educational intervention.

Data will be collected using validated self-report instruments administered before the intervention and 15 days after completion of the final education session. The primary outcomes include changes in vaccine hesitancy, digital vaccine literacy, eco-anxiety, and perceived vulnerability to diseases. Sociodemographic information will also be collected. All data will be collected through face-to-face interviews in a private setting, and participant confidentiality will be ensured by using coded identifiers instead of personal information.

The study aims to determine whether education provided within primary health care services can effectively improve parents' attitudes and perceptions related to vaccination and child health. The results are expected to inform future public health education strategies targeting parents during early childhood.