Willingness to accept vaccination against SARS-cov-2: A survey of junior doctors
1 Lecturer & Honorary Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, School of Medicine and Dentistry Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
2 Senior Lecturer Department of Internal Medicine Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, School of Medicine and Dentistry
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
3 Medical Officer Kumasi South Hospital P.O. Box 1908, Atonsu Agogo, Kumasi, Ghana.
4 Senior Lecturer Department of Child Health Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, School of Medicine and Dentistry
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
5 Lecturer Department of Internal Medicine Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, School of Medicine and Dentistry Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2021, 09(03), 159-166
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2021.9.3.0092
Publication history:
Received on 06 February 2021; revised on 08 March 2021; accepted on 10 March 2021
Abstract:
Introduction: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in the world. There are currently 4 COVID-19 vaccines have been developed for mass vaccination to combat the disease. Some people, however, have expressed safety and efficacy concerns with regards to the vaccines. In Ghana, junior doctors, being frontline doctors, are likely to first encounter patients presenting with COVID-19. They may also have the highest direct exposure to the virus even though their outcomes after infection may be good. The study sought to determine the potential acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccine among junior doctors, the factors that will influence their acceptance and whether they will recommend the vaccine to their patients. Methods: The study was an ethically approved anonymous cross-sectional survey to determine the willingness to accept the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among junior doctors in Ghana. The survey was designed using Google forms posted to the various junior doctor’s social media group pages such as WhatsApp and Facebook with the study participants responding to 15 items. Results: Out of a total of 305 participants, females were 155 (50.8%). Of the respondents, 171/305 (56.1%) had cared for Covid-19 patients before, 51/305 (16.7%) had had Covid-19 infection previously and 204/305 (66.9%) will be willing to take the vaccine when available. Females were more likely to take the vaccine and those who were willing to accept the vaccine were more likely to recommend same to their family and others. Conclusion: This study has showed a more than average willingness to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. Female gender, living with the extended family and history of SARS-Cov-2 infection were positively associated with willingness to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. Doctors who were willing to accept the vaccine were also more likely to recommend their patients and family members to also accept the COVID-19 vaccine.
Keywords:
COVID-19 vaccine; COVID-19; Coronavirus disease 2019; SARS-CoV-2; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2; Junior doctors.
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Copyright © 2021 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0