Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine’s Acceptability Amongst Health Care Workers in Oman: A cross-sectional study
Background: COVID-19 vaccines are considered to be a vital tool in controlling the pandemic. Hesitation with COVID-19 immunization has been reported worldwide. The acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine among health care workers (HCWs) is an important step in determining the success of any new vaccin...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection and Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034122001496 |
| _version_ | 1818018822712459264 |
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| author | Salah T. Al Awaidy Huda Al Siyabi Madan Khatiwada Amal Al Siyabi Said Al Mukhaini Carine Dochez Dennis Misac Giron Sitwat Usman Langrial Ozayr Mahomed |
| author_facet | Salah T. Al Awaidy Huda Al Siyabi Madan Khatiwada Amal Al Siyabi Said Al Mukhaini Carine Dochez Dennis Misac Giron Sitwat Usman Langrial Ozayr Mahomed |
| author_sort | Salah T. Al Awaidy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: COVID-19 vaccines are considered to be a vital tool in controlling the pandemic. Hesitation with COVID-19 immunization has been reported worldwide. The acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine among health care workers (HCWs) is an important step in determining the success of any new vaccination program. This study aims to estimate the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines among HCWs in Oman. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a self- administered questionnaire was conducted among HCWs in December 2020. Data were analyzed using a bivariate level to identify the statistical association with acceptability using the Chi-squared test. At the multivariate level, we determined the socio-demographic and knowledge factors associated with vaccine acceptability. Results: A total of 608 out of 700 HCWs participated (response rate 87 %), of which 64.8 % were Oman citizens and 53.8 % were aged between 30 and 39 years. The majority of the participants were female (62.8 %) and married (87.0 %), while 48.5 % of the respondents were doctors. Only 43 % of the participants were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, while 57 % were either uncertain 35 % or unwilling 22 % to be vaccinated. The main reason for not being willing to receive the vaccine was their perceived adverse events after vaccination. The male participants (OR: 1.96 95 % CI 1.22–3.13) and those with a positive attitude towards the vaccine (OR: 9.17(95 %) CI-1.78–47.07) were more willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, trust in the government (OR: 2.41 95 % CI 1.57–3.71) and having sound knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccine (OR: 15.91 95 % CI 9.81–25.88) improved the acceptability to vaccinate among the HCWs. In contrast, having a previous experience with SARS-CoV-2 (OR: 1.65, 95 % CI: 1.08–2.54), was associated with a significant decrease in COVID-19 vaccine acceptability. Conclusion: 50 % of HCWs reported being uncertain or unwilling to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 vaccine. Male gender, positive attitude towards the vaccines, trust in government and knowledge of COVID-19 vaccine as key factors that determine improved vaccine acceptability among HCWs. Therefore, to facilitate herd immunity among the population, it is necessary to initiate effective communication strategies among HCWs in order to sensitize them towards the acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:44:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-08b5fb0680694ffb9040f277f792fc39 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1876-0341 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:44:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Infection and Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-08b5fb0680694ffb9040f277f792fc392022-12-22T02:05:23ZengElsevierJournal of Infection and Public Health1876-03412022-08-01158906914Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine’s Acceptability Amongst Health Care Workers in Oman: A cross-sectional studySalah T. Al Awaidy0Huda Al Siyabi1Madan Khatiwada2Amal Al Siyabi3Said Al Mukhaini4Carine Dochez5Dennis Misac Giron6Sitwat Usman Langrial7Ozayr Mahomed8Office of Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, P.O.Box 393, Postal code 100, Muscat, Oman; Correspondence to: P.O.Box 393, PC 100, Muscat, Oman.Directorate of Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health, P.O.Box 393, Postal code 100, Muscat, OmanNetwork for Education and Support in Immunisation, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, BelgiumDirectorate of Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health, P.O.Box 393, Postal code 100, Muscat, OmanDirectorate of Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health, P.O.Box 393, Postal code 100, Muscat, OmanNetwork for Education and Support in Immunisation, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, BelgiumNetwork for Education and Support in Immunisation, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium; Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, FranceDepartment of Information Systems and Technology, Sur University College, Sur, OmanDepartment of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban 4041, South AfricaBackground: COVID-19 vaccines are considered to be a vital tool in controlling the pandemic. Hesitation with COVID-19 immunization has been reported worldwide. The acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine among health care workers (HCWs) is an important step in determining the success of any new vaccination program. This study aims to estimate the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines among HCWs in Oman. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a self- administered questionnaire was conducted among HCWs in December 2020. Data were analyzed using a bivariate level to identify the statistical association with acceptability using the Chi-squared test. At the multivariate level, we determined the socio-demographic and knowledge factors associated with vaccine acceptability. Results: A total of 608 out of 700 HCWs participated (response rate 87 %), of which 64.8 % were Oman citizens and 53.8 % were aged between 30 and 39 years. The majority of the participants were female (62.8 %) and married (87.0 %), while 48.5 % of the respondents were doctors. Only 43 % of the participants were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, while 57 % were either uncertain 35 % or unwilling 22 % to be vaccinated. The main reason for not being willing to receive the vaccine was their perceived adverse events after vaccination. The male participants (OR: 1.96 95 % CI 1.22–3.13) and those with a positive attitude towards the vaccine (OR: 9.17(95 %) CI-1.78–47.07) were more willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, trust in the government (OR: 2.41 95 % CI 1.57–3.71) and having sound knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccine (OR: 15.91 95 % CI 9.81–25.88) improved the acceptability to vaccinate among the HCWs. In contrast, having a previous experience with SARS-CoV-2 (OR: 1.65, 95 % CI: 1.08–2.54), was associated with a significant decrease in COVID-19 vaccine acceptability. Conclusion: 50 % of HCWs reported being uncertain or unwilling to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 vaccine. Male gender, positive attitude towards the vaccines, trust in government and knowledge of COVID-19 vaccine as key factors that determine improved vaccine acceptability among HCWs. Therefore, to facilitate herd immunity among the population, it is necessary to initiate effective communication strategies among HCWs in order to sensitize them towards the acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034122001496COVID-19COVID-19 vaccineAcceptabilityOmanHealth care workersHCWs |
| spellingShingle | Salah T. Al Awaidy Huda Al Siyabi Madan Khatiwada Amal Al Siyabi Said Al Mukhaini Carine Dochez Dennis Misac Giron Sitwat Usman Langrial Ozayr Mahomed Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine’s Acceptability Amongst Health Care Workers in Oman: A cross-sectional study Journal of Infection and Public Health COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccine Acceptability Oman Health care workers HCWs |
| title | Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine’s Acceptability Amongst Health Care Workers in Oman: A cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine’s Acceptability Amongst Health Care Workers in Oman: A cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine’s Acceptability Amongst Health Care Workers in Oman: A cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine’s Acceptability Amongst Health Care Workers in Oman: A cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine’s Acceptability Amongst Health Care Workers in Oman: A cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | assessing covid 19 vaccine s acceptability amongst health care workers in oman a cross sectional study |
| topic | COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccine Acceptability Oman Health care workers HCWs |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034122001496 |
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