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This book provides an in-depth understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological health of people and communities in India. Focusing on the current discourse on Mental Health literacy in India, the book also analyses COVID-19-specific health beliefs and their convergences and divergences with COVID-19 protocols and advisories. It discusses the impact of the pandemic on survivors of COVID-19 including their quality of life, psychological well-being, and coping mechanisms while tackling loneliness, loss, and grief. It explores the psychological and social challenges which children have faced during the pandemic and offers techniques to address and adequately manage Mental Health challenges. Grounded in theoretical and empirical research, this book will be of interest to students, teachers, and researchers of psychology, social psychology, Mental Health and wellness studies, and sociology. It will also be useful for academicians, social workers, healthcare workers, and psychologists. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
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In the current chapter, we have detailed the course and results of our research to evaluate the five constructs of Health Behaviour Model (HBM) as well as the degree of compliance to preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 among the Indian citizens. Additionally, we also examined the degree of association of the HBM constructs with the compliance. Finally, we investigated whether these constructs differed across various socio-demographic group. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
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We explored parent's intention to vaccinate their children aged 5–11 against corona and factors influencing this. A survey, including open and closed questions, was distributed among parents (N = 214, 57,8% female) at booster vaccination locations in Rotterdam. The survey was subdivided in three categories: background variables of the participant (parent), background variables of his/her children, determinants of vaccination-intentions and information needs. Results show that 43% of the parents intended to vaccinate their children. Parents attitude towards vaccination was ambivalent, they rated the likelihood for children to get infected with corona relatively high and the severity of corona for children relatively low. The response to potential harmful effects of the vaccine were ambivalent as well. Attitude was the strongest correlate of vaccination-intention and mediated the effects of likelihood, severity and harmfulness. Most parents would take the decision together with the partner, but also with the child. The open questions showed that the most common reason to vaccinate the child was to protect the child or others. Reasons mentioned for not vaccinating the child were mostly worries regarding side-effects and doubts about the added value of vaccinating children. In the discussion, communication and intervention options to enhance vaccination intentions are described. Samenvatting: We hebben onderzocht wat de bereidheid van ouders is om hun kinderen van 5 tot 11 jaar te laten vaccineren tegen corona en factoren die hieraan bijdragen. Op boostervaccinatielocaties in Rotterdam is aan ouders (N = 214, 57,8 % vrouw) een vragenlijst uitgedeeld met open en gesloten vragen. De vragenlijst was onderverdeeld in drie categorieën: achtergrondvariabelen van de deelnemer (ouder), achtergrondvariabelen van zijn/haar kinderen, en determinanten van vaccinatiebereidheid en informatiebehoeften. De resultaten laten zien dat 43,0 % van de ouders bereid was hun kinderen te vaccineren. Ouders hadden een ambivalente attitude ten aanzien van vaccineren, en schatten de kans op corona bij kinderen relatief hoog en de ernst van corona bij kinderen relatief laag in. De visie op schadelijkheid van het vaccin was ambivalent. Attitude was de sterkste voorspeller van vaccinatie-intentie en medieerde de effecten van kans, ernst en schadelijkheid. Veel ouders zouden de beslissing met de partner, maar ook met het kind nemen. In de open vragen gaven ze als redenen om het kind wel te vaccineren vooral dat ze het kind of anderen wilden beschermen. Redenen om het kind niet te vaccineren waren vooral zorgen over bijwerkingen en twijfel over de meerwaarde van het vaccineren van kinderen. De beschouwing beschrijft communicatie- en interventiemogelijkheden om vaccinatiebereidheid te bevorderen.
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Background: Uncertainty about any kind of medication will be a potential threat. Hesitancy regarding vaccination is a danger to overall global public health. Since it's the first-time global efforts were made to develop a vaccine against the pandemic of COVID-19. So, this is unknown its acceptance in the community. Getting information regarding the key determinants that influence and potential myths about the vaccine might help full to develop strategies that can help improve the vaccination programs globally. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine, its determinants, and myths about the vaccine among people in Pakistan. Methods: A descriptive web-based based study was done, using snowball sampling, bilingual, and a self-administered close-ended questionnaire was sent to participants through google forms on social media platforms and email. Results: A total of 463 participants from all over Pakistan showed the minimum level of secondary education. The occupational status of the participants showed that (45.1%) were currently employed. Vaccination and their perception can be influenced by educational/socioeconomic statuses, participants were also asked about factors they considered to be the most influential in terms of encouraging and discouraging. Fear of getting an infection was the most encouraging factor (39.1%) for people to get vaccinated, whereas adverse effects via social and digital media were the most demotivating factor (36.5%). Participants were asked the reasons for their reluctance;most were afraid of an allergic reaction to the vaccine. The various myths and misconceptions associated with the Covid vaccine showed by logistic regression analysis for factors that were potentially associated with the intake of covid vaccination. Conclusion: Addressing educational/sociodemographic factors relating to the COVID-19 vaccination might help encourage the uptake of the vaccination program globally which also tackles future pandemics.
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Background: Covid-19 has been declared a global pandemic by WHO. Health Care Workers (HCWs) being the front-line warriors have been most exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Vaccine hesitancy against Covid-19 has been seen among HCWs. The main aim of the research was to find the hesitancy rates of vaccine among HCWs and the pulling and pushing factors to get vaccinated. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on HCWs. Questionnaires on Google forms were sent to all participants through their WhatsApp number and data was analysed through SPSS version 23.0. Results: Out of 81 HCWs selected, 51.9% (n=42) were initially hesitant when the vaccine was first introduced. The main pulling factor initially to get vaccinated was to shield loved ones, 38.75% (n=31) and 46.2% (n=37) of them received a booster dose of vaccine mainly due to employment requirements. Out of the total, 19.75% (n=16) are still hesitant even after vaccination and the most common pushing factors were fear of the side effects and inadequately tested vaccines. Conclusion: Though the majority of the HCWs got vaccinated, vaccine hesitancy is still present among the HCWs and the major reason is uncertainty about the side effects it could cause in the long term.
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BACKGROUND: The Immunisation Register of Australia reports that childhood vaccination rates in some regional areas are below herd immunity levels. This is a concern for the health and well-being of society, as regions with low vaccination rates have an increased risk of disease outbreaks. OBJECTIVE: This study explored psychological motivators as predictors of anti-vaccination attitudes amongst parents living on the Sunshine Coast (Queensland), Australia. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design explored anti-vaccination attitudes, conspiratorial thinking, psychological reactance, trust in government and magical beliefs about health in 1050 parents (968 mothers). RESULTS: The predictor variables significantly accounted for 42% of the variance in parental anti-vaccination attitudes. The strongest predictor of anti-vaccination attitudes was lower levels of trust in government. CONCLUSION: The findings contribute to understanding of psychological factors motivating anti-vaccine attitudes in Australian parents. The findings may help inform health communication campaign effectiveness in their alignment with individual underlying motivations.
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This study assessed the knowledge and perception of Nigerians about COVID-19 vaccination. A cross-sectional survey was conducted comprising Health and Non-health workers in Nigeria. The knowledge, attitude, and perception of respondents on COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria was obtained through an online. Logistic regression was employed to determine which factor imparted on COVID-19 vaccination decision. The study showed a significant relationship between COVID-19 vaccination and immigration requirements. The survey showed that 74.07% of the health workers had been vaccinated, while 47.06% of non-Health Workers had been vaccinated. This study recommends that Governments at all levels should create more awareness of the importance of COVID-19 vaccination to increase the number of vaccinated individuals.
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COVID-19 vaccination is one of the most effective ways in the prevention and control of the pandemic worldwide. Achieving high levels of vaccine coverage is a key in minimizing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health systems, aged care systems, and communities. However, in many countries and regions, COVID-19 vaccine hesitation and rejection gradually become a huge hurdle for open-up the world again and for the recovery of the global economy. Vaccine hesitancy was already a growing concern worldwide even before COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly reduced the vaccine coverage and hindered the speed of vaccination. Therefore, it was listed as one of the top 10 threats to global health in 2019. The reasons for vaccine hesitancy and rejection remain complex and omnifarious. Targeted interventions tailored to vaccine hesitancy and refusal in specific populations may increase vaccine uptake. The communication-based interventions in health education and health promotion can effectively address the issues of vaccine hesitancy, such as raising vaccine knowledge and prevention awareness in specific populations, improving vaccine availability and accessibility, enforcing vaccination or implementing regulations to those unvaccinated, integrating the newest vaccine knowledge and evidence into routine health practices and procedures, addressing mistrust via dialogue and improving authority of healthcare providers and institutions.
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Objective: To understand the awareness level towards coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) prevention and the willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccine among people living with HIV/AIDS, and to discuss the related factors. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among people living with HIV/AIDS who visited the HIV clinic in the PLA General Hospital from June to December 2021.A general descriptive analysis, univariate and binary logistic regression analysis were performed to analyze data. Results: A total of 169 questionnaires were analyzed. Among them, 93.5%(158/169) would like to know more about COVID-19 related knowledge, 88.2%(149/169) were reminded to inject vaccine, 98.8%(167/169) would be far away from medium and high risk areas, 97.0%(164/169) would persuade others to follow the disease preventive requirements, 14.2%(24/169) thought that the propaganda was exaggerated, 30.8%(52/169) were worried about the safety of the vaccine, 80.5%(136/169) thought that they would feel relieved after the vaccination, and 98.2%(166/169) agreed that vaccination was the most effective way to fight against COVID-19. However, only 60.4%(102/169) were willing to receive COVID-19 vaccine. The major factors affecting vaccination intention were age and feeling safe after vaccination. Conclusions: People living with HIV/AIDS are more cautious about COVID-19 vaccination, therefore the coverage rate is relatively low.It is necessary for health providers to understand the specific situation of people living with HIV, and to enhance the heath education on the safety of COVID-19 vaccine especially among people with HIV/AIDS in order to improve the willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccine.
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This study utilizes Social Information Processing (SIP) theory to investigate the relationship between organizational preventive actions (substantive vs. symbolic), employee preventive behavior, the mediating role of conspiracy beliefs, and moderating role of leadership integrity in the context of Covid‐19. The study explains leadership integrity as a boundary condition to facilitate or hinder the mediated relationship between organizational actions and employee preventive behavior (EPB). The hypothesized model was tested using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM) on two‐wave data collected from 281 respondents. The results revealed that substantive actions do not predict EPB directly but through conspiracy beliefs. Contrary to these, symbolic actions negatively predict EPB directly. Leadership integrity moderates the relationship between substantive actions and conspiracy beliefs, while the interaction effect with symbolic actions is not supported. The findings of this study caution managers to walk their talk because employees critically observe the most apparent actions, especially when management fails to practice them. The study contributes to social information processing theory by pointing to leadership integrity as a source of authenticity to curb the negative impact of symbolic actions and catalyst the effect of substantive actions on employee preventive behavior.
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Introduction: Sri Lanka adopted various control measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 including early detection by widespread testing, contact tracing and isolation. However, some people were not willing to accept testing due to several reasons. This is the first study from Sri Lanka conducted to determine people's level of willingness to undergo a COVID-19 swab test. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 427 non-COVID-19 patients who visited the outpatient department at a Teaching hospital in northern Sri Lanka. Data collection was done over a one month period in July 2021. The data collected was entered and analysed using SPSS version 28. Results: The mean age of the participants was 43.4, and a majority of the participants were female (62.8%). A significant proportion of the participants (37.9% CI: 34.3-43.6) were not willing to accept the test to screen for COVID-19. Among the 162 patients who were not willing to accept the test, 56.2% reported fear regarding testing, and 37.6% reported fear of getting a positive result. A significant association was observed between people's willingness to accept the test and their gender (P-0.022) and knowledge of the test (P-0.001). Conclusion: As a considerable proportion of participants were not willing to accept COVID-19 screen testing, and people's knowledge regarding testing significantly influenced their acceptance of such testing, this study concludes that the public can be educated further about the COVID-19 infection, identifying the symptoms of disease by themselves, available testing methods, the importance of testing early and how they will be treated if they get positive test results.
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Physicians highlight that receiving the flu vaccine is critical, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Younger groups' flu vaccination coverage is very low, and this tendency is potentially related to a lower level of vaccine literacy and perceptions toward vaccination. This study investigated the relationship between flu vaccine literacy, health beliefs, and flu vaccinations (benefit, barrier, severity, and susceptibility) and their impact on perceived health status controlling for socioeconomic factors. It used the Health Belief Model andHealth Literacy Skills Framework with under/graduate students (N = 382) in Ohio, U.S. Path analyses were performed to examine the causal process using SPSS and Amos 23.0. Indicators of CFI, RMSEA, SRMR, and the chi-square/df of the path models were good-acceptable. Vaccine literacy directly impacted on health beliefs and vaccination. Susceptibility belief directly influenced perceived health status. The mediation effects of health beliefs (benefit, barrier) between vaccine literacy and vaccination were confirmed. The study highlights the need for healthcare providers and governments to work together to improve flu vaccine literacy and reduce negative perceptions toward vaccination among younger populations. Educational programs and official communication channels can be used to address concerns and provide accurate information about vaccines to increase flu vaccination rates and protect public health.
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Objective: This study aims to identify the nursing students' opinions about the COVID-19 vaccine. Materials and Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was realized with 1008 students enrolled in the nursing departments of four universities located in Istanbul. Data were collected online with Information Form. Results: 85.7% of the students did not get a COVID-19 vaccine, and 44.8% of the unvaccinated students did not think about getting a vaccine or were indecisive. The reasons for the students' not thinking about getting the vaccine or their indecisiveness about it were most frequently the vaccine having been produced in a very short time, not trusting the protection or content of the vaccine, not having enough information about the vaccine. A significant difference was found between the students' grade (p= 0.000), type of university (p= 0.000), knowledge level about the COVID-19 illness (p= 0.028) and vaccine (p= 0.000) and their thinking about getting vaccinated. Conclusion: It was found that a tiny part of the students was vaccinated;almost half of the unvaccinated students did not think about getting vaccinated or were indecisive. Understanding the student's perspective on the COVID-19 vaccine can be helpful in planning multidisciplinary education strategies.
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Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the willingness and hesitancy of COVID-19 vaccine among dentists. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire forms prepared for this cross-sectional study were converted into an online questionnaire and sent to dentists. The answers of the dentists who could be reached by this method in Turkey and volunteered to participate in the research were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-Square Test, Kruskall Wallis test and multinomial regression analysis. Statistical significance was determined as p < 0.05. Results: A total of 290 dentists participated in the survey. 91.7% of the respondents whose marital status is single agree to be vaccinated, while 2.1% are undecided and 6.2% refuse to be vaccinated. 33.4% of non-working participants agreed to be vaccinated, while 66.7% were undecided. (p < 0.05) There is a positive relationship between the participants' having additional income and their acceptance of the vaccine. Conclusions: Our study showed that the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among Turkish dentists is high level. Knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine should be strengthened to further increase vaccine acceptance rates. Dentists' high acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine is expected to have a positive impact on population acceptance.
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Background: Self-care during Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVD-19) helps people follow self-care strategies to reduce the spread of the virus. To control the disease, people need to engage in self-care behaviors, and investigating these behaviors requires a valid and reliable instrument to yield valid and credible information. Objectives: This study aimed to validate the Persian version of the Self-Care in COVID-19 Scale (SCOVID-Scale). Methods: The sample included 582 participants from XXX's general population who were selected using a convenience sampling method. They were divided into two groups, one half for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the other for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Cronbach's alpha coefficient and McDonald's omega were used to assess Internal consistency. Standard error of measurement (SEM) and interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to examine absolute stability and relative stability, respectively. Results: In the EFA, three factors, including Prevention, Routine Activities, and Lifestyle, were extracted that together explained 32.31% of the total variance of COVID-19 self-care. Internal consistency of the total scale using both Cronbach's alpha coefficient and McDonald's omega was above 0.7. The goodness of fit indices of second-order CFA was in the acceptable range. Conclusion: The Persian version of the SCOVID Scale is a valid and reliable instrument, and it can be used in studies on COVID-19.
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The research aimed to identify the behavior of rural women towards food safety and quality at Damanhour Distrct, the simple random sample amounted to 240 respondents, representing 5% of the total. The data were collected through a personal interview by questionnaire. The most important results were: 47.9% of the respondents have a low and medium total level of knowledge of food safety and quality, and 59.5% of them have a low and medium level of implementation of those practices, 52.1% have a negative and neutral attitude towards these practices, 68.3% believe that they have not been previously infected with Covid 19, and 49.2% have not taken the vaccine for Covid 19, the All agreed on the availability of the vaccine, 35% of the respondents have a low and medium level of knowledge of practices related to food safety and quality under Covid 19, and 50.8% have a low and medium level of implementation of those practices. Also, five independent variables together explain 65.4% of the total variance in the respondents' knowledge of practices related to food safety and quality, four independent variables together explain about 62.3% of the total variance in the implementation of practices related to food safety and quality by the respondents. And seven independent variables together explain about 55.4% of the total variance in the attitudes of the rural women respondents towards food safety and quality.
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The Acehnese have a long history of disaster preparedness due to their experience with natural disasters, including tsunamis and epidemics. During the COVID-19 outbreak, Aceh has benefited from many lessons from collaboration at the central, regional, and village/gampong levels by the government and PENTAHELIX actors such as communities, academics, religious leaders, mass media, entrepreneurs, philanthropy, and local wisdom combined with modern technology for cross-border mobility. Handling COVID-19 in Aceh has strengths in the form of unique local wisdom and privileges of Aceh Province. This paper provides the best lessons on readiness, response, recovery efforts, a new disaster risk reduction approach, and future recommendations from the Aceh Province during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Acehnese's local wisdom is salt, water in the jar (le lam guci), henna on fingers (pakek gaca), chewing betel leaf (pajoh ranup), burning rice (tuet leumang), isolation of the sick, and hold a prayer, is obtained from the plague experience in the past.
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Objective: Although there are many vaccine developments, vaccine side-effect studies globally, limited literature information on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy/refusal. In our study, we aimed to investigate the factors for COVID-19 vaccine refusal of healthcare professionals (HCPs). Methods: An online questionnaire was administered to HCPs employed who were not vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine during the study period at two pandemic hospitals. Results: A total of 74 who were not vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine HCPs participated in the survey. A large majority of respondents were female (n=49,66.2%) and nurses (n=35,47.3%), and the average age of HCPs was 32.2 .. 7.8.55.4% of HCPs were not vaccinated against COVID-19, and 44.6% of HCPs were one dose COVID-19 vaccinated. 50% of HCPs were confused about the COVID-19 vaccine. 63.5% of HCPs were not vaccinated as they were waiting for a different form of the current vaccine. 58.1% of HCPs believe that the vaccine doesn't effective as vaccinated people became infected. Conclusion: Measures should be taken to increase the COVID-19 immunization rates of HCPs. The level of knowledge of HCPs about COVID-19 vaccines should be increased. If possible, the opportunity to be vaccinated with different forms of COVID-19 vaccines should be given.
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Background: The misconceptions and conspiracy theories against the Covid-19 vaccines have been identified as potential factors that could negatively impact herd immunity for the Covid-19 vaccination. Focus of the article: From the perspectives of the Health Belief Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior, the study sought to determine an effective social marketing intervention to address the misconceptions about the Covid-19 vaccines. Research Hypotheses: The hypotheses stipulate that perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefit, and perceived barriers of the coronavirus will positively influence Covid-19 vaccination behavior. The study further hypothesized that subjective norms (important others) would significantly mediate the relationships. Methods: Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 821 individuals from three administrative regions, which constitutes 65% of the population of Ghana. The quota and convenience sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents due to the lack of a sampling frame. Results: The study's findings show that only perceived susceptibility and the perceived barrier directly influence the Covid-19 vaccination behavior. The result, however, shows a significant improvement when important others were introduced as a mediating variable. Thus, all four constructs had a positive and significant influence on Covid-19 vaccination behavior through subjective norm (important others) as an intervening variable. The study shows the value of using opinion leaders as a communication channel in addressing the misperceptions and conspiracy theories against the Covid-19 vaccines. Recommendation for Research/Practice: To effectively address the misconceptions about the Covid-19 vaccines and improve herd immunity, social marketers should identify key influencers in various communities and cities and use them in promoting the vaccination program. The study examined and found subjective norms (perceived social pressure from important others in society on an individual to perform or not to perform a behavior) as a significant mediator for promoting the Covid-19 vaccination behavior. Limitations: The current study examined the mediating role of subjective norm and the HBMs' constructs. Future studies could also consider integrating subjective norm as a mediator in other behavioral change theories to predict the target audience's behavior.
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This dissertation is an ethnographic study that examines the health beliefs of persons experiencing homelessness in Mid-town Memphis. It considers participants' social practices and environmental circumstances and analyzes how the global pandemic may have informed their health beliefs. Social determinants such as neighborhood safety, unemployment, racism, and transportation exacerbate issues of absenteeism, poor dietary/health-related habits, and further mistrust in health systems and public aid. Low "compliance," a term used in health care to describe patient behaviors of non-adherence to prescribed medical treatments, is problematic in its connotation of intent or deliberateness without consideration of socioeconomics and other sociocultural matters. Therefore, the term is used in this text interchangeably with "non-adherence" with reluctance and with the understanding that such industry terminology does not account for health beliefs, psychosocial, or cultural factors. Moreover, the terms are restrictive and are at odds with the notions of health beliefs and the narrative paradigm. Nonetheless, non-compliance highlights issues of health literacy, which may also complicate matters of patient adherence and the production of socially constructed health beliefs. Vulnerable populations, such as persons experiencing homelessness, have long suffered from the systems that exclude them from society and almost entirely from the scientific literature that may shed light on the barriers they experience daily and pathways that might affect policy change to improve their health and wellness.By Privileging the voices and experiences of persons affected by homelessness, this study seeks to identify social and structural barriers impacting the health of this population group and make their struggles visible to policymakers, health promoters, and the lay public. Secondly, this community-based participatory action research invites participants to discuss pathways to impact health equity and become potential catalysts for social change. The participants are the recorders, collectors, and tellers of stories expressing their needs to inform systemic or policy change. The study data was collected over eighteen months post- COVID-19 lock-down.This ethnomethodological study demonstrates that the cohort's mixed sociocultural, socioeconomic, and psychohistories affect individual and communal health beliefs. The narratives serve as the primary data and basis for answering questions about the formulation, exchange, and communication of health beliefs and behaviors as they may be affected by socio-environmental conditions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)