Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Towards Childhood Immunization Among Pregnant Women: A Prospective Interventional Study in Karnataka

Abstract

Background: Childhood immunization remains a cornerstone of preventive medicine, yet vaccination coverage continues to be suboptimal in many developing regions due to maternal knowledge gaps, misconceptions, and healthcare access barriers. Pregnant women, as future caregivers, play a decisive role in shaping vaccination adherence.

Methods: A six-month prospective interventional study was conducted at Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalaburagi, Karnataka. A total of 302 pregnant women were enrolled after ethics approval. A structured pretested questionnaire assessed baseline awareness, attitude, and practice (KAP) scores regarding childhood immunization. Pharmacist-led education was delivered through counselling, information leaflets, and audiovisual aids. One month later, a post-test was administered. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests, chi-square, and ANOVA.

Results: Baseline awareness, attitude, and practice scores were 22.5%, 32.9%, and 30.1%, respectively. Post-intervention, scores significantly improved to 76.5% (p<0.001), 87.7% (p<0.001), and 79.4% (p<0.001). Socio-demographic factors such as maternal education, parity, and socioeconomic status strongly influenced knowledge levels (p<0.05). Educational interventions eliminated misconceptions, improved vaccine timeliness, and reinforced positive attitudes.

Conclusion: Pharmacist-led education substantially improved pregnant women’s knowledge and attitudes towards immunization, indicating that incorporating pharmacists into immunization campaigns may enhance vaccine uptake and reduce preventable morbidity.