An Examination of Attitudes Toward Childhood Vaccinations Through YouTube Comments: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

AIM: The aim of this study is to examine attitudes toward childhood vaccinations through YouTube comments.
MATRERIAL and METHOD: This study was conducted using a descriptive qualitative design. The data consisted of 1,861 publicly available user comments posted under three YouTube videos related to childhood vaccinations in Türkiye. Videos were selected using criterion sampling based on predefined keywords and high view counts. Comments were coded, and themes and subthemes were identified using MAXQDA 20.0 software.
RESULTS: The analysis revealed three main themes: Vaccine Opposition, Pro-Vaccine Attitudes, and Polarization and Derogatory Language. Vaccine opposition included beliefs that vaccines are harmful, distrust of vaccine content, risk narratives based on side effects, conspiracy-oriented beliefs, and religious/fatalistic interpretations. Pro-vaccine attitudes emphasized disease prevention, scientific explanations, and herd immunity. The findings also demonstrated strong polarization, with both groups frequently using derogatory and aggressive language toward opposing views.
CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that attitudes toward childhood vaccinations expressed on YouTube are shaped not only by scientific knowledge but also by trust, values, and ideological beliefs, highlighting the need for empathetic and trust-based communication strategies in digital health contexts. Health communication strategies should prioritize transparent, culturally sensitive, and empathy-based approaches on digital platforms to address misinformation, reduce polarization, and strengthen public trust in childhood vaccination programs.