Background: Rotavirus vaccine has been strongly recommended to prevent diarrhea, a second leading cause of death in children under five in Indonesia. However, the utilization of porcine-derived trypsin in the manufacturing process may cause hesitancy among Muslim. This study aims to explore Muslim mothers’ acceptance of the rotavirus vaccine.
Methods: A semi-qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2019. Sample was determined using consecutive sampling. A questionnaire consist of open and closed-ended questions was distributed to Muslim mother age 20-40 years old using an online survey tool. Data on demographics, maternal age, and children’s rotavirus vaccination status were collected. Parental views on the porcine-derived trypsin utilization, vaccine halal label and reason for accept or reject rotavirus vaccine were assessed individually with open-questions. Subsequently, responses were categorized into positive, negative or ambiguous view.
Results: One hundred fifty-three muslim mothers filled out and completed the questionnaire. Over half of those surveys (57.5%) had vaccinated their child with the rotavirus vaccine, while the rest had not. The largest group (n=110) had a favorable view that porcine trypsin utilization during the manufacturing process was not an obstacle to vaccinate their child against rotavirus. Others (n=6) had a less-positive view which not fully agreed to the porcine trypsin utilization, but still accepting the vaccine due to the absence substitutes other than porcine trypsin. Negative view (n=26) represents mothers' rejection of porcine trypsin in this vaccine, and ambiguous view (n=11) represents an unclear response whether accepting or refusing the vaccine.
Conclusion: Although rotavirus vaccine utlizes porcine trypsin enzyme during its manufacturing proccess, this vaccine is generally acceptable to Muslim mothers