A Study to assess the perception of COVID -19 vaccinations among the residents in a selected area of Digboi
Aparajita Phukan Baruah
Assam Oil College of Nursing is affiliated to Srimanata Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences, Guwahati.
*Corresponding Author Email: aparajitajan@gmail.com
ABSTRACT:
Safe and effective vaccine are important tools, in combination with other measures to protect people from COVID-19 and which can save lives and reduces the pandemic in widescale.1 A descriptive study was carried out to assess the perception of COVID -19 vaccination and association between perception of COVID -19 vaccination with demographic variables. The aims and objectives of the study were to assess the demographic variables, to assess the level of perception towards COVID-19 vaccination among the residents in a selected area of Digboi and to find out the association between the levels of perception towards COVID-19 vaccination with the selected socio demographic variables of the residents in a selected area of Digboi. Total 100 residents under the age group of 20-60 years of Muliabari area of Digboi, Tinsukia, Assam taken for the study through non-probability convenient sampling technique. The tools used in the study were ten self-structured interview questionnaire to assess the perception of COVID-19 vaccination among residents. Results showed that the mean perception score was 40.63 and standard deviation was 6.15. Among 100 residents, majority of residents 57(57%) had strongly agree response towards the vaccination, 37(37%) had agree response and 6(6%) had uncertain response towards the vaccination and there was no any response for disagree or strongly disagree. The researcher came to the conclusion that the residents of Muliabari, Digboi area has positive perception towards COVID-19 vaccinations.
KEYWORDS: Perception, Vaccination, Residents, COVID-19.
INTRODUCTION:
Coronavirus is a type of enveloped RNA virus. There are near about six different species of Coronaviruses are available which can cause different health issue to human like respiratory, hepatic, enteric and neurological system.1
Safe and effective vaccine are important tools, in combination with other measures to protect people from COVID-19 and which can save lives and reduces the pandemic in widescale.2
In 2021, WHO set the target for 70% global vaccination coverage by mid-2022 by prioritizing full vaccination and boosters for high-risk populations older adults, healthcare workers, and persons with co-morbidities including immunocompromised persons.3
There was advice from WHO on ways on self-protection measures, vaccination and preventive measures like maintaining health hygiene, environmental hygiene etc to get rid of spread of COVID-19.4
But result of some studies shown that there is false information on COVID 19 vaccine, negative perception, negative attitude towards the COVID-19 vaccination among the general public.
The pan India survey conducted online revealed that approximately 3 in 10 adults were not willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.5
People with COVID-19 have had wide range of symptoms reported ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Possible symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness breathe or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, or vomiting, diarrhea.6
There are many preventive measures are been practiced for COVID-19 such as wearing a mask, avoid crowds and public gathering, avoid close contact, wash hand frequently.7
After many investigations, WHO suggested that vaccine is one of the preventive measures for COVID-19, so every country made a protocol that vaccination is mandatory for their citizen to protect them from the dreadful disease. A COVID-19 vaccine is a vaccine intended to provide acquired immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2(SARS-CoV-2). The initial focus of SARS -CoV-2 vaccines was on preventing symptomatic, often severe illness. In 2020, the first covid-19 vaccines were developed and made available public through emergency use authorization. Initially, most COVID-19 vaccines were two-dose vaccines. Immunity from the vaccines has been found to wane over a time, requiring people to get booster doses of the vaccine to maintain immunity against COVID-19 .The COVID -19 vaccines are widely credited for their role in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and reducing the severity and death caused by COVID-19.According to a June 2022 study, COVID-19 vaccines prevented an additional 14.4 to 19.8 million deaths in 185 countries and territories from 8 December 2020 to 8 December 2021. As of September 2022, 12.7 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered worldwide based on official reports from national public health agencies. 8
There are lots of myths outspread in the society in which negativity outweighed. Through the repeated outbreak of the disease turnout the people to think in positively to some extent, still in some places they are not willing to take vaccination because of the negative thoughts and also side effects9.
Therefore, the researchers decided to do a study to assess the perception of general public on COVID-19 vaccination and to assess the association of perception on COVID-19 vaccination with demographic variables of the residents of Muliabari Digboi area. Moreover no such investigation was done regarding the perception on COVID-19 vaccinations among the general public in Digboi. So to make the public of Digboi area aware about the profit and positive effects of COVID-19 vaccination, the researcher selected the people of Muliabari, Digboi.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Research design Descriptive research.
Settings of the study Muliabari, Digboi, Tinsukia, Assam.
Variable:
Demographic variables age, gender, educational status, occupational status, total family income of the residents in a selected area of Digboi.
Research variables The perception of COVID-19 vaccination among the residents in a selected area of Digboi.
Target population Residents of selected area of Digboi, Tinsukia, Assam.
Sample size 100 residents of Muliabari, Digboi, Assam.
Sampling technique non-probability convenience sampling technique.
Description of tool and data collection procedure-
Based on the objectives of the study and from the review of the related literature the Self-structured interview questionnaire were developed in two sections. Section A consists of demographic characteristics: age, gender, educational status, occupational status, total family income. Section B consist of self-structured interview questionnaire on perception of COVID-19 Vaccination. After the informed consent the data were collected from the participant using the tools.
Plan for data analysis Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data.
RESULT:
Section-I: Description of Socio Demographic Variables of the Residents of Muliabari, Digboi.
Table 1.1: Frequency and percentage distribution of residents according to age.
|
Age (in years) |
Frequency |
Percentage |
|
20-30 |
22 |
22% |
|
31-40 |
20 |
20% |
|
41-50 |
21 |
21% |
|
51-60 |
37 |
37% |
The Table 1.1 shows that out of 100 resident majority i.e. 37(37%) belonged to the age group of 51-60 years of age, 22(22%) belonged to age group of 20-30 and 21(21%) were in the age group of 41-50 years, and remaining 20(20%) were in the age group of 31-40years.
Table 1.2: Frequency and percentage distribution of residents according to gender.
|
Gender |
Frequency |
Percentage |
|
Male |
56 |
56% |
|
Female |
44 |
44% |
|
Others |
0 |
0 |
The Table 1.2 shows that out of 100 resident majority of the residents i.e. 56(56%) were males and 44(44%) were females. And there were no any residents of any other gender.
Table 1.3: Frequency and percentage distribution of residents according to educational status.
|
Educational status |
Frequency |
Percentage |
|
Non-formal education |
6 |
6% |
|
High school |
41 |
41% |
|
Higher secondary school |
32 |
32% |
|
Undergraduate |
15 |
15% |
|
Post-graduate and above |
6 |
6% |
The table 1.3 shows that out of 100 resident majority of the residents i.e. 41(41%) were completed high school education, 32(32%) were completed higher secondary school education, 15(15%) were undergraduate and 6(6%) were not completed formal education and 6(6%) were completed post-graduate and above.
Table 1.4: Frequency and percentage distribution of residents according to occupational status.
|
Occupational status |
Frequency |
Percentage |
|
Unemployed |
28 |
28% |
|
Self-employed |
27 |
27% |
|
Business |
35 |
35% |
|
Government job |
2 |
2% |
|
Private job |
8 |
8% |
The Table1.4 shows that out of 100 resident the majority of the residents were engaged in business i.e. 35(35%), 28(28%) were unemployed, 27(27%) were self-employed, 8(8%) were engaged in private job and only 2(2%) were in government job.
Table 1.5: Frequency and percentage distribution of residents according to family income per year.
|
Total family income/year |
Frequency |
Percentage |
|
>Rs90,000 per year |
27 |
27% |
|
Rs50,000-90,000 per year |
33 |
33% |
|
Rs30,000-49,999 per year |
21 |
21% |
|
Rs10,000-29,999 per year |
17 |
17% |
|
<Rs10,000 per year |
2 |
2% |
The Table 1.5 reveals that out of 100 resident majority i.e. 33(33%) were under the category of Rs50, 000-90,000 per year, 27(27%) were under >Rs90, 000per year, 21(21%) were under the category Rs30, 000- 49,999 per year and the rest of 17(17%) were under Rs10, 000-29,999 per year and 2(2%) were <Rs10, 000 per year.
Section-II: Assess the level of perception of residents towards COVID-19 vaccination
Table2.1: Distribution of responses on perception towards COVID-19 vaccination as per likert scale.
|
Sl no |
Statement |
Strongly agree |
Agree |
Uncertain |
Disagree |
Strongly disagree |
Total |
|
1 |
Covid-19 vaccination is effective |
44 |
39 |
10 |
5 |
2 |
100 |
|
2 |
Covid-19 vaccination is important |
49 |
43 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
100 |
|
3 |
Covid-19 vaccination is trustable |
53 |
38 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
100 |
|
4 |
One should encourage their family, friends, and relatives to get vaccination |
59 |
36 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
100 |
|
5 |
Covid-19 vaccination should be affordable and accessible by common people |
62 |
29 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
100 |
|
6 |
Preventive measures are necessary even after vaccination |
56 |
37 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
100 |
|
7 |
Pregnant women should get vaccinated |
14 |
18 |
57 |
6 |
5 |
100 |
|
8 |
Covid-19 vaccination can reduce the spread of disease in the community |
40 |
44 |
10 |
4 |
1 |
100 |
|
9 |
Covid-19 vaccination helps us to stay healthy |
24 |
44 |
26 |
4 |
2 |
100 |
|
10 |
Covid-19 vaccination does not affect our life span |
18 |
35 |
36 |
7 |
4 |
100 |
Table 2.2: Score distribution of response towards COVID-19vaccination as per likert scale.
|
Sl No |
Statement |
Strongly agree |
Agree |
Uncertain |
Disagree |
Strongly disagree |
Total |
Mean |
|
1 |
Covid-19 vaccination is effective. |
220 |
156 |
30 |
10 |
2 |
418 |
4.18 |
|
2 |
Covid-19 vaccination is important |
245 |
172 |
12 |
4 |
2 |
435 |
4.35 |
|
3 |
Covid-19 vaccination is trustable. |
212 |
152 |
12 |
4 |
3 |
383 |
3.83 |
|
4 |
One should encourage their family, friends, and relatives to get vaccination |
295 |
144 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
451 |
4.51 |
|
5 |
Covid-19 vaccination should be affordable and accessible by common people. |
310 |
116 |
12 |
10 |
0 |
448 |
4.4 |
|
6 |
Preventive measures are necessary even after vaccination. |
280 |
148 |
6 |
8 |
1 |
443 |
4.43 |
|
7 |
Pregnant women should get vaccinated. |
70 |
72 |
171 |
12 |
5 |
330 |
3.30 |
|
8 |
Covid-19 vaccination can reduce the spread of disease in the community. |
200 |
176 |
30 |
8 |
1 |
415 |
4.15 |
|
9 |
Covid-19 vaccination helps us to stay healthy. |
120 |
176 |
78 |
8 |
2 |
384 |
3.84 |
|
10 |
Covid-19 vaccination does not affect our life span. |
90 |
140 |
108 |
14 |
4 |
356 |
3.56 |
|
|
TOTAL |
2042 |
1452 |
468 |
80 |
21 |
4063 |
40.63 |
Table 2.3: Percentage distribution of response towards COVID-19 vaccination as per likert scale.
|
Score |
Response |
Percentage |
Mean |
Standard deviation |
|
41-50 |
Strongly agree |
57% |
40.63 |
6.15 |
|
31-40 |
Agree |
37% |
||
|
21-30 |
Uncertain |
6% |
||
|
11-20 |
Disagree |
0% |
||
|
10 |
Strongly disagree |
0% |
||
|
|
total |
100% |
The data presented in Table 2.3 showed that majority of residents 57(57%) had strongly agree response towards the vaccination, 37(37%) had agree response and 6(6%) had uncertain response towards the covid-19 vaccination. There was no any response for disagree or strongly disagree.
Table 2.2 and 2.3 showed that residents had strongly favorable perception on statement 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and as the mean score was shown to be 4.18, 4.35, 4.51, 4.4, 4.15, and 4.15. For the statement 3, 7, 9, 10 had favorable perception as the mean score was shown to be 3.83, 3.30, 3.84, and 3.56.
As the overall mean score is 40.63, it was interpreted that residents had strongly favorable perception towards COVID-19 vaccination.
Section-III: Association between the levels of perception towards COVID-19 vaccination with the selected demographic variables of the residents of Muliabari, Digboi area.
Table 3.1: Chi-square value to test association between the levels of perception towards COVID-19 vaccination with selected socio demographic variables.
|
Demographic variable |
Sample |
Chi-square |
df |
p-value |
Remarks |
|
Age |
20-30 |
3.387 |
12 |
21.03 |
NS |
|
31-40 |
|||||
|
41-50 |
|||||
|
51-60 |
|||||
|
Gender |
Male |
1.615 |
8 |
15.51 |
NS |
|
Female |
|||||
|
Others |
|||||
|
Educational status |
Non-formal education |
9.778 |
16 |
26.30 |
NS |
|
High school |
|||||
|
Higher secondary school |
|||||
|
Undergraduate |
|||||
|
Postgraduate and above |
|||||
|
Occupational status |
Unemployed |
6.484 |
16 |
26.30 |
NS |
|
Self-employed |
|||||
|
Business |
|||||
|
Government job |
|||||
|
Private job |
|||||
|
Total family income per year |
>Rs. 90,000 |
4.542 |
16 |
26.30 |
NS |
|
Rs. 50,000-90,000 |
|||||
|
Rs. 30,000-49,999 |
|||||
|
Rs. 10,001-29,999 |
|||||
|
<Rs10,000 |
NS: Non-Significance at p<0.05 level of significance.
Data presented in Table 3.1 revealed that the calculated Chi-square value was less than tabulated value, so it was evident that there was no significant association between level of perception with age, gender, educational status, occupational status, total family income per year.
DISCUSSIONS:
The findings of the study had been discussed in terms of objectives framed for the study. The findings of the study were compared and contrasted with those of others similar study. The discussion of findings of the study is presented below.
The first objective of the study to assess the level of perception towards COVID-19 vaccination among 20-60 years of age group in selected area in Digboi.:
The present study showed that 57(57%) of residents of Muliabari, Digboi area given positive responses towards strongly agree towards the COVID-19 vaccination, 37(37%) resident responded towards agree for the COVID-19 vaccination and 6(6%) resident responded uncertain response towards the COVID-19 vaccination. There was no any response for disagrees or strongly disagrees.
The findings of the study is similar to the study by Habibunisha H, Vadivazhgan Alias Rathinam, Nivethita K where it was revealed that among 50 subjects 24 (48%) subjects had a favorable perception, 23(46%) subjects had neutral perception and 3(6%) subjects had an unfavorable perception towards COVID-19 vaccination among general public.9
The findings of the study is also similar to the study by Sr. Joseena, Sisamma where it was found that that 50% had good level of attitude and 66.75% of subjects had good level of perception towards covid19 vaccination.
The findings of the study is also similar to the study by Usha N S etal where it was found that participant had positive perception towards COVID-19 vaccination.11
The findings of the study contradict to the findings of the study conducted by Kishore etal where it was found that that approximately 3 in 10 adults were not willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.5
The second objective of the study was to find out the association between the levels of perception towards COVID-19 vaccination with selected demographic variables.
In the present study the researchers found that there is no any significance association between level of perception towards COVID-19 vaccination and demographic variables i.e. age, gender, educational status, occupational status, total family income per year among the residents of 20-60 years of age group in Muliabari Digboi.
The findings of this study is similar to some of the findings and contradict some of the findings of the study conducted by Devi Bandana etal. where it was revealed that there was a significant association between attitude with age, vaccination against COVID-19 and source of information.2
The findings of the study is also similar to the study by Sr. Joseena, Sisamma where it was found that that 50% had good level of attitude and 66.75% of subjects had good level of perception towards covid19 vaccination. There is a correlation between knowledge, attitude and perception at 0.05 level of significance.10
CONCLUSION:
Interpreting the findings of the study on perception towards COVID-19 vaccination and association between the levels of perception towards COVID-19 vaccination with selected demographic variables i.e. age, gender, educational status, occupational status, total family income per year researcher came to the conclusion that the residents of Muliabari, Digboi area have positive perception towards COVID-19 vaccination irrespective of their age, gender, educational status, occupational status and total family income per year.
REFERENCES:
1. Subhashis Debnath, Jaya Saha. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): A global threat. Asian Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2022; 12(1): 63-9. doi: 10.52711/2231-5713.2022.00011
2. Bandana Devi, Christina Yanthan, Ashok Shrestha, Dharitry Baro, Karishma Nath, Ludmila Das, Minakshi Deka, Ruseng Tangha, Srishti Sumon Saikia, Susibrata Chungkrang. A Study on the Attitude and Acceptance towards COVID-19 Vaccination among the Nursing Students of Arya Nursing College Kamrup (R). Asian Journal of Nursing Education and Research. 2023; 13(1): 47-3. doi: 10.52711/2349-2996.2023.00012 Available on: https://ajner.com/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2023-13-1-12
3. https://www.who.int/campaigns/vaccine-equity
4. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
5. Kishore etal.Perception and attitude towards COVID-19 vaccination. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care 10(8):p 3116-3121, August 27, 2021. DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2530_20
6. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html.
7. Goodwin Meredith, Sissons Beth. Tips to prevent corona virus transmission. Updated on: Nov 29th, 2020. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/coronavirusprevention.
8. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccine.
9. Habibunisha H, Vadivazhgan Alias Rathinam, Nivethitha K. A study on perception on Covid- 19 vaccination among general public. Asian Journal of Nursing Education and Research. 2021; 11(4):537-0. doi: 10.52711/2349-2996.2021.00127 Available on: https://ajner.com/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2021-11-4-19
10. Sr. Joseena, Sisamma Sebastian, Akhila K.B, Akshaya Sabu, Amitha Alexander, Anju Antony, Aparna Sibi, Jincy Siby, Mariya Mathew, Sr. Rigi Shaju, Riya Biju, Sreekutty Sabu. The Knowledge, Attitude and Perception regarding Covid-19 Vaccination among Mothers. International Journal of Nursing Education and Research. 2022; 10(4): 299-4. doi: 10.52711/2454-2660.2022.00069 Available on: https://ijneronline.com/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2022-10-4-4
11. Usha N S et al. A Study to assess side effects of first dose of Covid-19 Vaccination among GNM students studying at JSS School of Nursing Chamarajanagar. Asian Journal of Nursing Education and Research. 2021;11:552
Received on 27.05.2023 Modified on 22.07.2023
Accepted on 18.09.2023 ©A&V Publications All right reserved
Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2023; 13(4):275-279.
DOI: 10.52711/2349-2996.2023.00057