Ann Ig 2022. Sept-Oct; 34(5): 490-500 doi: 10.7416/ai.2021.2489. Epub 2021 Nov 30..
COVID-19 vaccination knowledge, attitudes and practices among residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the third wave of COVID-19 outbreak
1 Emergency Medicine Department of Canton Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, ORCID 0000-0003-2865-0446
2 Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, ORCID 0000-0001-7680-6308
3 Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, ORCID 0000-0002-4476-3988
4 Clinical Center of University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
5 Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Abstract
Background.
Bosnia and Herzegovina hasn’t still developed and started any vaccination programs to contain the current COVID-19 outbreak and prevent further spreading and death from this disease. The aim of this study was to assess current knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 vaccination during the third wave of the outbreak when the healthcare system is facing a collapse and to create a paradigm for developing vaccination programs in the country.
Methods.
This cross-sectional study was conducted by an anonymous online questionnaire based on a Congo study and Center for Disease Control and Prevention facts regarding COVID-19 vaccination during the third wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
Results.
In total, 570 subjects, mostly female 474 (83.1%), with a high school degree or lower 230 (40.3%), married 305 (53.5%), engaged in intellectual labor 302 (53.0%), from urban environment 531 (93.1%) and with a mean age of 35.28±11.35, were included in the study. The mean COVID-19 vaccination knowledge test score was 11.29±1.91. Being single (OR= 1.88, 95% 1.20-2.94) or in a relationship (OR=1.87, 95% 1.12-3.11), being engaged in intellectual labor (OR=1.59, 95% CI 1.06-2.37) and having a Master’s degree or higher (OR=1.65, 95% CI 1.10-2.46) were associated with higher knowledge test scores. Only 264 (46.3%) subjects agreed that COVID-19 vaccination programs will prevail in a battle versus COVID-19 and only
36 (6.3%) were currently vaccinated against COVID-19. Higher knowledge regarding COVID-19 and its vaccination was determined as an independent predictor for vaccinating itself against COVID-19 (OR=23.09,95% CI 11.94-44.68), as well as respecting socio-epidemiological measures such as avoidance of crowded places (OR=2.07, 95% CI 1.28-3.35) and wearing face mask (OR=6.95, 95% CI 2.07-23.29).
Conclusions.
Our study shows that Bosnia and Herzegovina population has poor knowledge, relatively pessimistic attitudes and a very low vaccinal rate against COVID-19 during the third wave of the outbreak which promotes COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and further COVID-19 spreading and death toll. By activating proper socioepidemiological measures and educating population about COVID-19 and COVID- 19 vaccination, as well as vaccination against COVID-19, the current situation could be changed.
- Luglio 22, 2022