TY - JOUR
T1 - Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards COVID-19 vaccinations
T2 - a cross-sectional community survey in Bangladesh
AU - Islam, Md Saiful
AU - Siddique, Abu Bakkar
AU - Akter, Rejina
AU - Tasnim, Rafia
AU - Sujan, Md Safaet Hossain
AU - Ward, Paul R.
AU - Sikder, Md Tajuddin
N1 - Funding Information:
Firstly, the authors would like to express the most profound gratitude to all of the respondents who participated in this study. The authors would like to thank all research assistants: Mst. Shauda Ahmed, Jannatul Mawa, Amena Akhter, Md. Mehedy Hassan, Sharin Siddika Chaity, Md. Jahid Hasan, Md Tariq Ahmed, Mintia Islam Austha, Md. Mirazul Islam, Md. Al Amin, Asif Mahmud Arnob, Shazid Hossain Adib, Mashrafi Nayeem, Tanoy Chandra Bhowmick, Irfanul Haque Nabil, Mst. Jemi Hkatun, Md. Kamrul Hasan Shaowkat, Sheikh Hafsa Boqul, Shahrina Tasnim Manami, Sangita Chakraborty, Nowshin Nabila Siddique, Imtiaz Ahmed Sakib, and Umma Motahara, for their supports during the study periods.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - Background: Several vaccines have been approved for use against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and distributed globally in different regions. However, general community knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards COVID-19 vaccinations are poorly understood. Thus, the study aimed to investigate community knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards COVID-19 vaccinations in Bangladesh. Methods: An exploratory and anonymous population-based e-survey was conducted among 1658 general individuals (55.6% male; mean age = 23.17 ± 6.05 years; age range = 18–65 years). The survey was conducted using a semi-structured and self-reported questionnaire containing informed consent along with four sections (i.e., socio-demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions). Multiple linear regression was performed to determine the variables predicting knowledge, and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccinations. Results: The mean scores of knowledge and attitudes were 2.83 ± 1.48 (out of 5) and 9.34 ± 2.39 (out of 12) respectively. About a quarter of participants thought that the COVID-19 vaccination available in Bangladesh is safe, only 60% will have the vaccination and about two-thirds will recommend it to family and friends. In the multiple regression model, higher SES, having university/ higher levels of education, having nuclear families and having previous history of essential vaccines uptake were associated with knowledge; whilst attitudes were significantly associated with being female and having previous history of essential vaccines uptake. Just over half of the participants thought that everyone should be vaccinated and 61% responded that health workers should be vaccinated first on priority basis. 95% of respondents believed the vaccine should be administered free of charge in Bangladesh and almost 90% believed that the COVID-19 vaccine used in Bangladesh may have side effects. Conclusions: The findings reflect inadequate knowledge but more positive attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine among the general population in Bangladesh. In order to improve knowledge, immediate health education programs need to be initiated before mass vaccination are scheduled.
AB - Background: Several vaccines have been approved for use against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and distributed globally in different regions. However, general community knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards COVID-19 vaccinations are poorly understood. Thus, the study aimed to investigate community knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards COVID-19 vaccinations in Bangladesh. Methods: An exploratory and anonymous population-based e-survey was conducted among 1658 general individuals (55.6% male; mean age = 23.17 ± 6.05 years; age range = 18–65 years). The survey was conducted using a semi-structured and self-reported questionnaire containing informed consent along with four sections (i.e., socio-demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions). Multiple linear regression was performed to determine the variables predicting knowledge, and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccinations. Results: The mean scores of knowledge and attitudes were 2.83 ± 1.48 (out of 5) and 9.34 ± 2.39 (out of 12) respectively. About a quarter of participants thought that the COVID-19 vaccination available in Bangladesh is safe, only 60% will have the vaccination and about two-thirds will recommend it to family and friends. In the multiple regression model, higher SES, having university/ higher levels of education, having nuclear families and having previous history of essential vaccines uptake were associated with knowledge; whilst attitudes were significantly associated with being female and having previous history of essential vaccines uptake. Just over half of the participants thought that everyone should be vaccinated and 61% responded that health workers should be vaccinated first on priority basis. 95% of respondents believed the vaccine should be administered free of charge in Bangladesh and almost 90% believed that the COVID-19 vaccine used in Bangladesh may have side effects. Conclusions: The findings reflect inadequate knowledge but more positive attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine among the general population in Bangladesh. In order to improve knowledge, immediate health education programs need to be initiated before mass vaccination are scheduled.
KW - Attitudes
KW - COVID-19
KW - Knowledge
KW - Perceptions
KW - Side effect
KW - Vaccine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85117271865&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12889-021-11880-9
DO - 10.1186/s12889-021-11880-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 34645399
AN - SCOPUS:85117271865
VL - 21
JO - BMC Public Health
JF - BMC Public Health
SN - 1471-2458
IS - 1
M1 - 1851
ER -