A psychological insight of Moroccan adults’ immunisation behaviour towards emergency vaccines

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

Background

The psychology of vaccination behaviour explains how thoughts and feelings influence people’s willingness to receive vaccines. Understanding vaccination behaviour is crucial to successfully managing vaccination campaigns.

Aim

Investigating factors associated with immunisation stress among students at Mohammed First University.

Setting

This study was conducted on students at Mohammed First University institutions.

Methods

This study is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study. It was conducted on 305 students at Mohammed First University institutions using a 90-item questionnaire.

Results

Three hundred and five participants have been included in this survey. Overall, 65.5% of the students in our sample had a positive perception towards COVID-19 vaccines. Nevertheless, 34.5% had a negative opinion regarding immunisation. According to the analysis of perceived stress scale, 40% ( n = 122) of students expressed moderate to high stress regarding vaccination. Students with a negative perception of vaccine showed a higher level of stress than those with a positive one. Stressed students tended to be older than others, coming from other institutions, other than the medical faculty, and were renting alone. Vaccine accessibility was the less significant reason associated with stress regarding vaccination. Moreover, participants with high levels of confidence in social media, exhibited higher stress. Nevertheless, those who believed in scientific journals were significantly less stressed.

Conclusion

These results reflect a positive perception and acceptance of vaccines, with a considerable level of stress regarding vaccination.

Contribution

This study suggests emphasising the mental health of Moroccan young adults, to better sensitise and inform them about immunisation.

Related collections

Most cited references 52

Record: found
Abstract: not found
Article: not found

A Global Measure of Perceived Stress

Sheldon Cohen, Tom Kamarck, Robin Mermelstein (1983)

0 comments Cited 3839 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Is Open Access

Vaccine hesitancy: Definition, scope and determinants.

Noni MacDonald (2015)

The SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy concluded that vaccine hesitancy refers to delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccination despite availability of vaccination services. Vaccine hesitancy is complex and context specific, varying across time, place and vaccines. It is influenced by factors such as complacency, convenience and confidence. The Working Group retained the term 'vaccine' rather than 'vaccination' hesitancy, although the latter more correctly implies the broader range of immunization concerns, as vaccine hesitancy is the more commonly used term. While high levels of hesitancy lead to low vaccine demand, low levels of hesitancy do not necessarily mean high vaccine demand. The Vaccine Hesitancy Determinants Matrix displays the factors influencing the behavioral decision to accept, delay or reject some or all vaccines under three categories: contextual, individual and group, and vaccine/vaccination-specific influences.