Background: Effective vaccination among children is essential for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the factors influencing parental decision-making is critical to improving vaccine uptake among children. This study, conducted in 2021 to determine parents' intentions regarding COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 3–18 years in Guilan Province using the BASNEF model.
Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 688 parents selected through multistage cluster random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire comprising demographic information, knowledge, and BASNEF model constructs. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21, and the significance level was considered as p-value < 0.005.
Results: Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that subjective norms (p < 0.001), attitudes (p < 0.001), knowledge (p < 0.001), maternal decision-making (p = 0.001), joint parental decision-making (p < 0.001), parental vaccination status (p = 0.03), and having a vaccinated child (p = 0.002) collectively explained 56% of the variance in parental behavioral intention.
Conclusion: Parental intention to vaccinate children against COVID-19 is strongly influenced by knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, and decision-making patterns. The BASNEF model effectively identifies these factors, guiding targeted strategies to improve vaccine uptake.