ABSTRACT
Background: It is widely believed that vaccine hesitancy is prevalent. Achievement of COVID-19 vaccination depends upon public willingness towards immunization against this disease. This study aimed at revealing the underlying situation regarding community hesitancy for COVID-19 vaccine. This study was conducted to determine the level of acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among community and to seek association between socio-demographic factors and various perceptions about COVID-19 vaccine. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 390 health-care providers and general Pakistani people of age 20 years and above through non probability snowball sampling. An online questionnaire was used to gather data. The socio-demographic variables along with various concepts regarding intentions to take vaccine as well as hesitancy for the same were tried to bring on the surface. The p -value <= 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: This study reveals that 61.28% of participants desired to get vaccinated. There was significant association between the desire to get vaccination with participant's age & occupation (p value < 0.01). The significant association between the positive views of the health-care providers and the other study subjects (p<0.00) is highly encouraging. The other socio-demographic variables have varied effect on vaccine uptake intentions and hesitancy and require further research on this subject. Conclusion: The study conducted on three hundred & ninety respondents consistently reveals the significant association between the positive views of the health care providers and the other study subjects with the p-values lesser than 0.001. The study concludes that other socio-demographic fabric of the community showed varied effect on COVID 19 vaccine uptake intentions and hesitancy. Recommendation: 1. The broad based qualitative research is strongly recommended in order to better seek the community insights & perceptions regarding this public health issue. 2. The large number of Community people although want to get vaccinated against covid-19, still there is a widespread prevalent doubts about this vaccine as being not so safe for them. Such type of doubts among community necessitate that some counselling sessions be conducted in order to remove uncertainties among common people. Motivations of people need to be raised so as to increase the coverage of covid-19 vaccination.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To enumerate the challenges of online learning faced by urban and rural medical students in LUMHS and highlight the preference of medical students regarding online learning also seek association of medical students of both populations with the challenges of online learning. Study Design: A comparative Cross sectional study Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro from February 2021 to April, 2021. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among urban and rural MBBS students of LUMHS, via non probability convenient sampling. A predesigned close ended Google form questionnaire used to gather data. The data was analyzed by using SPSS 23.00 with significant p< 0.05. Students who were willing to participate are included in the study while who were not willing to participate were excluded. Results: Among 487 students of LUMHS 43.7% male and 56.3% female. 55.3% to urban areas and 44.9% to rural areas. 89.52% of students have internet availability. 69.02% of urban and 82.64% of rural population shows problem of internet signals.82.08% of urban and 91.78% rural students faced electricity problem. 78.85% of respondents said their study work increased due to e-learning and 52.15% faced problem of privacy. 62.68% and 76.86% of urban while 76.25% and 81.27% of rural students feels stress on submission of assignment and appearing in online test/ exams. Most of 86.19% of urban and 85.84% of rural didn't prefer online teaching. while76.86% urban and 75.34% rural student said online teaching should not be made part of regular education. Conclusion: Students of both population were facing problems of internet, electricity, privacy of learning and feel stress during online submission of assignment and test/exams. Students belongs to urban population was facing less problem of internet and electricity than rural students (p<0.001).