title: Knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of the Italian population towards Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and HPV diseases and vaccinations: A cross-sectional multicentre study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study addressed knowledge of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and human papillomavirus (HPV), and attitudes and behaviours towards vaccines against them.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional, multicentre study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected through a questionnaire administered to 530 adults who accessed four Departments of Prevention of the Italian National Health Service in 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Less than 50% of people gave the right answer to all the questions concerning the three diseases, but 96.2%, 94% and 92.7% agreed with the importance of vaccination against N. meningitidis, S. pneumoniae and HPV, respectively, and 58.4% expressed own willingness to have their children vaccinated with N. meningitidis B vaccine. The attitude towards vaccination was more positive in women for N. meningitidis and in people having children for HPV. Furthermore, individuals giving correct answers to all knowledge items were more in favour of both HPV and S. pneumoniae vaccination. A total of 68.8%, 82.6% and 84.5% of respondents vaccinated their own children against N. meningitidis C, S. pneumoniae and HPV, respectively. About 50% of the respondents reported paediatricians' or other health professionals' recommendations as the main reason for vaccination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vaccinations may be promoted through actions aimed at increasing citizens' knowledge. Health professionals should be educated to actively provide information on vaccinations in a clear, comprehensive and effective way.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Sanità Pubblica - Sezione di Igiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy. Electronic address: chiara.dewaure@unicatt.it.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Waure
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Sanità Pubblica - Sezione di Igiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quaranta
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Sanità Pubblica - Sezione di Igiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ianuale
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panatto
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amicizia
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Apprato
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Sanità Pubblica - Sezione di Igiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Campanella
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Sanità Pubblica - Sezione di Igiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colotto
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Sanità Pubblica - Sezione di Igiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Meo
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Sanità Pubblica - Sezione di Igiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Nardo
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Sanità Pubblica - Sezione di Igiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Frisicale
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Sanità Pubblica - Sezione di Igiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: La Milia
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rizzitelli
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Prevenzione ASL Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aquilani
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Prevenzione S.C. Igiene e Sanità Pubblica ASL2 savonese, Italy.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Briata
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Prevenzione S.C. Igiene e Sanità Pubblica ASL2 savonese, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Frumento
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Prevenzione S.C. Igiene e Sanità Pubblica ASL3 genovese, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marensi
authors.affiliation: UOS Medicina Preventiva Età Evolutiva IV Distretto, ASL RMA, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spadea
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Prevenzione S.C. Igiene e Sanità Pubblica ASL3 genovese, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Turello
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gasparini
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Sanità Pubblica - Sezione di Igiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination
keywords: Communicable diseases; Health knowledge, attitudes, practice; Surveys and questionnaires; Vaccines