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Assessment of attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors among clinical practitioners in Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study
Journal
PLOS ONE
ISSN
1932-6203
Date Issued
2022-06-16
Author(s)
Eleleta Surafel Abay
Mezmur Dawit Belew
Beza Seleshi Ketsela
Enderas Eneyew Mengistu
Liya Sisay Getachew
Yonas Ademe Teferi
Abebe Bekele Zerihun
Editor(s)
Amir H. Pakpour
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0269923
Abstract
<jats:sec id="sec001">
<jats:title>Background</jats:title>
<jats:p>Clinical practitioners are influential figures in the public’s health-seeking behavior. Therefore, understanding their attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine is critical for implementing successful vaccination programs. Our study aimed to investigate clinical practitioners’ acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors for evidence-based interventions.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="sec002">
<jats:title>Methods</jats:title>
<jats:p>Data from 461 clinical practitioners were collected using a cross-sectional design via an online self-administered survey. Descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses and chi-square tests were conducted using R version 3.6.1.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="sec003">
<jats:title>Results</jats:title>
<jats:p>The COVID-19 vaccine was accepted by 84.4 percent of those polled, and 86.1 percent said they would recommend it to others. Individuals with advanced levels of education demonstrated greater readiness for vaccine acceptance (P<0.001) and willingness to recommend (P<0.001). On the other hand, practitioners with concerns about the safety of vaccines developed in emergency settings were less likely to accept vaccines (OR = 0.22). Practitioners influenced by social media posts (OR = 0.91) and religious beliefs (OR = 0.71) were found to be less willing to recommend the vaccine.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="sec004">
<jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title>
<jats:p>The study demonstrated that interventions to improve clinical practitioners’ acceptance and recommendation of the COVID-19 vaccine should consider the following factors: level of experience and education, religious beliefs, safety concerns, specific profession, and source of information. Vaccine literacy efforts that directly address specific concerns and misconceptions, such as those that reconcile social media information and religious beliefs with scientific literature, are recommended.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:title>Background</jats:title>
<jats:p>Clinical practitioners are influential figures in the public’s health-seeking behavior. Therefore, understanding their attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine is critical for implementing successful vaccination programs. Our study aimed to investigate clinical practitioners’ acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors for evidence-based interventions.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="sec002">
<jats:title>Methods</jats:title>
<jats:p>Data from 461 clinical practitioners were collected using a cross-sectional design via an online self-administered survey. Descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses and chi-square tests were conducted using R version 3.6.1.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="sec003">
<jats:title>Results</jats:title>
<jats:p>The COVID-19 vaccine was accepted by 84.4 percent of those polled, and 86.1 percent said they would recommend it to others. Individuals with advanced levels of education demonstrated greater readiness for vaccine acceptance (P<0.001) and willingness to recommend (P<0.001). On the other hand, practitioners with concerns about the safety of vaccines developed in emergency settings were less likely to accept vaccines (OR = 0.22). Practitioners influenced by social media posts (OR = 0.91) and religious beliefs (OR = 0.71) were found to be less willing to recommend the vaccine.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="sec004">
<jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title>
<jats:p>The study demonstrated that interventions to improve clinical practitioners’ acceptance and recommendation of the COVID-19 vaccine should consider the following factors: level of experience and education, religious beliefs, safety concerns, specific profession, and source of information. Vaccine literacy efforts that directly address specific concerns and misconceptions, such as those that reconcile social media information and religious beliefs with scientific literature, are recommended.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
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