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Factors Impacting Hesitancy to Be Inoculated against the Covid-19 Pandemic: Examination of People Perceptions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Other Title
Factors Impacting Hesitancy to Be Inoculated against the Covid-19 Pandemic: Examination of People Perceptions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Type
thesis
Date Issued
2022-06-16
Author(s)
BRENEVA ANDRIANN MELISA OLLIVER
Advisor
黃國哲
Subjects
系所名稱：醫務管理學系碩士班
Publisher
醫務管理學系碩士班
Description
口試委員：黃國哲 HUANG, KUO-CHERH ;簡麗年 CHIEN, LI-NIEN;楊哲銘 YANG, CHE-MING
網際網路,開放日期為2022-07-08
網際網路,開放日期為2022-07-08
Abstract
Abstract
Title of thesis: Factors Impacting Hesitancy to Be Inoculated against the Covid-19 Pandemic: Examination of People
Perceptions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Author: Breneva A. M. Olliver
Thesis Advisor: Professor Kuo-Cherh Huang, Dr.PH
Background: Many vaccines have been introduced since the 1900’s historically reducing millions of cases of diseases by 92-100%. Most of the conspiracy theories, false allegations and suspicions about the vaccines that were developed for diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles in the 1900’s, are being circulated today in the 21st century about the Covid-19 vaccines. These allegations and misinformation damaged the trust and instilled fear of vaccines causing a decrease in vaccination rates. With the fast development of the Covid-19 vaccines during the pandemic, vaccine hesitancy behaviour has worsened. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines vaccination rates remain low with 27% of the public fully vaccinated with Covid-19 vaccines, despite the raging numbers of Covid-19 cases and Covid-19 related deaths on the small island with a population of 110,800 inhabitants.
Objective: This study assessed the reasons for vaccine hesitancy by identifying indicators or behaviour using the World Health Organization (WHO) 3C’s model along with other influential factors and examined the association to socio-demographic characteristics of the population.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using the snowball sampling method among the population of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The questionnaires were distributed to participants using a link to access the Google form via What’s app. A total of 285 participants responded to the questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were done using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) 9.4 software, which examined the relationships between the dependent, independent and control variables.
Results: The results indicated socio-demographic and independent variables had significant associations with vaccine hesitancy. Confidence in the Covid-19 vaccines had the largest significant association with vaccine hesitancy (p<.0001). Participants who agreed to having confidence in the Covid-19 vaccines were more willing to get a Covid-19 vaccination. Income was also significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy. Participants who earned between $2,000-$3,999 XCD (approximately between $740.04-$1,479.71 USD) monthly (p=0.023) were also more willing to get a Covid-19 vaccination. In regards to employment, participants self-employed (p=0.031) were also more willing to get a Covid-19 vaccination. Another significant association with vaccine hesitancy was participants’ perception on political and conspiracy theories (p=0.0003). This indicated participants who more likely agreed with the political and conspiracy theories surrounding the Covid-19 vaccine were more hesitant about getting vaccinated. For work experience, participants with 16-20 years of experience (p=0.018) were more hesitant in getting Covid-19 vaccination. Covid-19 vaccine preference had significant association with vaccine hesitancy (p=0.006), which indicated that participants who were more willing to get vaccinated agreed that the vaccination depended on the availability of the preferred choice of the Covid-19 vaccination. Finally, participants with a medical history of both diabetes and hypertension (p=0.040) were more hesitant in getting the Covid-19 vaccination.
Conclusion: The world is still plagued with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic after nearly three (3) years. Although vaccine hesitancy existed since the 1900’s, the rapid development of the Covid-19 vaccines made vaccine hesitancy worst. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, there were a few donations of AstraZeneca, Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech), Abdala and Sputnik V from countries including Taiwan, USA and Covid-19 Global Vaccine Access (COVAX) initiative.
Vaccination rates however, slightly increased during stages of crisis but remained low at 27% despite the availability of the preferred choice of Covid-19 vaccines for inoculation.
Title of thesis: Factors Impacting Hesitancy to Be Inoculated against the Covid-19 Pandemic: Examination of People
Perceptions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Author: Breneva A. M. Olliver
Thesis Advisor: Professor Kuo-Cherh Huang, Dr.PH
Background: Many vaccines have been introduced since the 1900’s historically reducing millions of cases of diseases by 92-100%. Most of the conspiracy theories, false allegations and suspicions about the vaccines that were developed for diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles in the 1900’s, are being circulated today in the 21st century about the Covid-19 vaccines. These allegations and misinformation damaged the trust and instilled fear of vaccines causing a decrease in vaccination rates. With the fast development of the Covid-19 vaccines during the pandemic, vaccine hesitancy behaviour has worsened. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines vaccination rates remain low with 27% of the public fully vaccinated with Covid-19 vaccines, despite the raging numbers of Covid-19 cases and Covid-19 related deaths on the small island with a population of 110,800 inhabitants.
Objective: This study assessed the reasons for vaccine hesitancy by identifying indicators or behaviour using the World Health Organization (WHO) 3C’s model along with other influential factors and examined the association to socio-demographic characteristics of the population.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using the snowball sampling method among the population of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The questionnaires were distributed to participants using a link to access the Google form via What’s app. A total of 285 participants responded to the questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were done using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) 9.4 software, which examined the relationships between the dependent, independent and control variables.
Results: The results indicated socio-demographic and independent variables had significant associations with vaccine hesitancy. Confidence in the Covid-19 vaccines had the largest significant association with vaccine hesitancy (p<.0001). Participants who agreed to having confidence in the Covid-19 vaccines were more willing to get a Covid-19 vaccination. Income was also significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy. Participants who earned between $2,000-$3,999 XCD (approximately between $740.04-$1,479.71 USD) monthly (p=0.023) were also more willing to get a Covid-19 vaccination. In regards to employment, participants self-employed (p=0.031) were also more willing to get a Covid-19 vaccination. Another significant association with vaccine hesitancy was participants’ perception on political and conspiracy theories (p=0.0003). This indicated participants who more likely agreed with the political and conspiracy theories surrounding the Covid-19 vaccine were more hesitant about getting vaccinated. For work experience, participants with 16-20 years of experience (p=0.018) were more hesitant in getting Covid-19 vaccination. Covid-19 vaccine preference had significant association with vaccine hesitancy (p=0.006), which indicated that participants who were more willing to get vaccinated agreed that the vaccination depended on the availability of the preferred choice of the Covid-19 vaccination. Finally, participants with a medical history of both diabetes and hypertension (p=0.040) were more hesitant in getting the Covid-19 vaccination.
Conclusion: The world is still plagued with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic after nearly three (3) years. Although vaccine hesitancy existed since the 1900’s, the rapid development of the Covid-19 vaccines made vaccine hesitancy worst. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, there were a few donations of AstraZeneca, Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech), Abdala and Sputnik V from countries including Taiwan, USA and Covid-19 Global Vaccine Access (COVAX) initiative.
Vaccination rates however, slightly increased during stages of crisis but remained low at 27% despite the availability of the preferred choice of Covid-19 vaccines for inoculation.