Determining Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of Vaccination Hesitancy Scale in Parents of Iranian Adolescents and Children

Intruduction: Hesitancy about vaccination has grown, and the World Health Organization now considers it a major threat to global health. Hesitancy about vaccination and not doing it in people who have not been vaccinated yet and those who have a weak immune system and are vulnerable to infection reduce immunity against the disease. This psychometric study was the Persian version of the Covid-19 vaccination Hesitancy scale in Iranian adolescents and children. Methods: This methodological and cross-sectional study was performed using a simple sampling method with a sample size of 1260 people. The instrument used in the study was a questionnaire including demographic questions and a translated vaccination Hesitancy scale (VHS) that was sent to eligible individuals through social media. The completed scale data were analyzed using SPSS-AMOS26 software Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed two-factor structures that generally explained 49.73% of the total variance of parents' desire to receive the Covid 19 vaccine in children and adolescents. According to the findings of the Confirmatory factor analysis, all fit indices were appropriate and the model fit was confirmed. The convergent and divergent validity showed that both factors have good convergent and divergent validity. The results of internal consistency showed that Cronbach's alpha and omega McDonald's combined reliability and maximum reliability of the two extracted factors are excellent (> 0.77). In addition, the scale had good reliability values (> 0.3). According to these results, it also had a good internal consistency scale. Conclusion: The Persian version of the vaccination Hesitancy scale had acceptable construct validity and reliability. It has two factors with 9 items that explain 49.73% of the total variance of vaccination Hesitancy in the parents' desire to get the Covid 19 vaccine in children and adolescents. This scale can be useful for researchers and healthcare providers in identifying and screening parents who are skeptical about vaccinating children and adolescents