فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Background and Objectives: We are increasingly encountering parental doubts, hesitancy, or even refusal regarding vaccination. Health literacy is a key component that can contribute to reducing parental vaccine hesitancy. However, some studies suggest a more complex, and even counterintuitive, relationship between health literacy and vaccination attitudes. The aim of this study was to examine the predictive role of parental health literacy in shaping negative attitudes toward vaccination.Material and Methods: The research was conducted as a correlational study between April and May 2025 using an online questionnaire. All kindergartens in Serbia were contacted via email. A representative sample consisted of 379 parents of children aged 1 to 7 years.Results: Parents of preschool children in the Republic of Serbia demonstrated low levels of health literacy. Health literacy was found to be a predictor of the following criteria: Mistrust of vaccine benefits [F(1,377)=11.85; p<.01], Worries about unforeseen future effects [F(1,377)=17.57; p<.01], Concerns about commercial profiteering [F(1,377)=29.10; p<.01], Preference for natural immunity [F(1,377)=7.16; p<.01], and Overall negative attitude towards vaccination [F(1,377)=24.38; p < .01], explaining 2–8% of the variance. It was found that a higher level of parental health literacy contributed to a more negative attitude towards childhood vaccination.Conclusion: The findings suggest that a higher level of health literacy does not necessarily correspond to more positive vaccination attitudes. This highlights the importance of considering additional factors such as institutional trust and exposure to misinformation. Future interventions should focus on improving health literacy, developing critical thinking and information appraisal skills.