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Chacón-Labrador FR, Passantino MG, Moncada-Ortega A, Ávila AA, Moreno AA, Kuffaty-Akkou NA, Pedroza LM, Camejo-Ávila NA, Mendoza-Millán DL, Rodriguez-Saavedra CM, Marcano-Rojas MV, Hernández-Medina F, Grillet ME, Carrión-Nessi FS, Forero-Peña DA. Understanding the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Venezuela. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1117. [PMID: 38654278 PMCID: PMC11036563 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18598-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite nearly a quarter of Venezuelans remaining unvaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy in the country have not been thoroughly investigated. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 15th to 30th, 2022, using a knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey to identify factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. RESULTS The study analyzed data from 1,930 participants from all 24 states of Venezuela. The majority (93.4%) were vaccinated. The mean age was 40 years, predominantly female (67.3%), and held a university degree (70.6%). The mean KAP score was significantly higher among vaccinated individuals compared to unvaccinated ones (7.79 vs. 3.94 points for knowledge, 40 vs. 24 points for attitudes, and 16 vs. 10 points for practices, all p < 0.001). Increases in the scores for KAP were associated with increased odds of being vaccinated (84.6%, 25.6%, and 33% respectively for each one-point increase, all p < 0.001). Certain demographic factors such as marital status, occupation, religious beliefs, monthly income, and location influence COVID-19 vaccine knowledge. Higher income and certain occupations decrease the odds of low knowledge, while residing in specific states increases it. Attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine are influenced by age, health status, vaccination status, and location. Higher income and absence of certain health conditions decrease the odds of negative attitudes. Lastly, age, occupation, monthly income, and location affect vaccine practices. Advanced age and higher income decrease the odds of inappropriate practices, while residing in La Guaira state increases them. CONCLUSION Factors such as age, education level, occupation, monthly income, and location were found to be associated with knowledge and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine among the surveyed Venezuelans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabián R Chacón-Labrador
- Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela
- School of Medicine, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - María G Passantino
- Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela
- School of Psychology, Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Augusto Moncada-Ortega
- Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela
- School of Medicine, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Atahualpa A Ávila
- Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela
- School of Medicine, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Andrea A Moreno
- Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela
- School of Medicine, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Nicolle A Kuffaty-Akkou
- Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela
- School of Medicine, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Luisana M Pedroza
- Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela
- School of Medicine, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | | | - Daniela L Mendoza-Millán
- Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela
- School of Medicine, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | | | | | - Fernando Hernández-Medina
- Immunogenetics Section, Pathophysiology Laboratory, Centro de Medicina Experimental "Miguel Layrisse", Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Altos de Pipe, Venezuela
| | - María E Grillet
- Vector and Parasite Biology Laboratory, Instituto de Zoología y Ecología Tropical, School of Sciences, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Fhabián S Carrión-Nessi
- Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela.
- School of Medicine, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
- Immunogenetics Section, Pathophysiology Laboratory, Centro de Medicina Experimental "Miguel Layrisse", Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Altos de Pipe, Venezuela.
| | - David A Forero-Peña
- Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela.
- School of Medicine, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
- Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitario de Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela.
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