Support for Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccines for 5- to 11-Year-Old Children: Cross-sectional study of Omani mothers.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the variables that influenced a sample of Omani mothers' support for mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for children. The vaccination against COVID-19 averted millions of fatalities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, a considerable number of parents and caregivers opposed mandating COVID-19 vaccines for children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at several healthcare facilities in Oman using a structured questionnaire between February and March 2022. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyse the data. Results: A total of 700 Omani mothers (response rate = 73.4%) who had children aged 5-11 years old were included. The median age of the mothers was 38 ± 5.19 years. The results of multivariable logistic regression were generally consistent with those of the univariable analysis except for age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.58-1.93; P = 0.86) and income (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.58-2.03; P = 0.79). Mothers who were vaccine hesitant (OR = 9.82, 95% CI: 5.27-18.28; P <0.001), tested positive for COVID-19 (OR = 3.25, 95% CI: 1.80-5.86; P <0.001) and had one or two doses of COVID-19 vaccines (OR = 5.41, 95% CI: 2.92-10.03; P <0.001) were more likely to refuse mandating COVID-19 vaccines for children 5-11 years old. Conclusion: Mothers who were vaccine hesitant, tested positive for COVID-19 and had one or two doses of COVID-19 vaccines were more likely to oppose mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for young children. The findings should aid public health authorities in designing future childhood vaccine literacy programmes with specific attention to some subgroups in Oman to help reduce opposition to vaccines in future pandemics among mothers.

Mothers' Intention to Vaccinate Their Children Aged 5-11 Against COVID-19: A Cross-sectional Survey.

Objectives: COVID-19 vaccines lower the risk of infection hospitalization, and death. Despite the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, some caregivers are hesitant to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. In this study, we explored the factors that influence Omani mothers' intentions to vaccinate their 5-11 year-old children. Methods: Of the 954 mothers approached, 700 (73.4%) participated in a cross-sectional face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaire in Muscat, Oman, between 20 February and 13 March 2022. Data on age, income, level of education, trust in doctors, vaccine hesitancy, and intention to vaccinate their children were collected. Logistic regression was used to assess determinants of mothers' intention to vaccinate their children. Results: Most mothers had 1-2 children (n = 525, 75.0%), had a college degree or higher education (73.0%), and were employed (70.8%). More than half (n = 392, 56.0%) reported that they were likely or very likely to get their children vaccinated. The intention to get children vaccinated was associated with older age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02-1.08; p =0.003), trust in their doctor (OR = 2.12, 95%, CI: 1.71-2.62; p < 0.001), and low vaccine hesitancy (OR = 25.91, 95% CI: 16.92-39.64; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Understanding the factors that influence caregivers' intentions to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 is important for the development of evidence-based vaccine campaigns. To increase and sustain high vaccination rates for COVID-19 vaccination in children, it is critical to address the factors that cause caregiver hesitation about vaccines.

Attitudes of Physicians and Nurses in Oman Toward Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines and disapproval of the policy of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination among unvaccinated physicians and nurses in Oman. Methods: The subjects were (N = 346) unvaccinated physicians and nurses in Oman. Their demographic data and attitudes regarding COVID-19 vaccines and mandatory vaccination policy were collected through an anonymous web-based survey and statistically analyzed. Results: The participants' negative attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines were positively related (r = 0.68, p < 0.001) to the extent of their non-support for COVID-19 mandatory vaccination policy. Analysis of variance test showed that after controlling for age, male healthcare providers were more likely to endorse mandating COVID-19 vaccinations. There was no difference between physicians and nurses in support of mandatory vaccination, after controlling for age. Conclusions: Regardless of job type, male, and older physicians, and nurses in Oman were more supportive of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination than their younger and female counterparts. This research provides insights from an Arabian Gulf country about the attitudes of its unvaccinated healthcare providers toward compulsory COVID-19 vaccination.

Reminders of existing vaccine mandates increase support for a COVID-19 vaccine mandate: Evidence from a survey experiment.

BACKGROUND: Governments are trying various strategies to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates, including vaccine mandates. Popular support for such mandates, however, is in flux in many countries, including the United States. The objective of this study is to evaluate if the wording of public health messages could increase popular support for COVID-19 vaccine mandates. METHODS: We conducted a survey experiment on a sample of 573 registered voters in South Dakota, United States. Participants in the control group (n = 271) read a short message about mandatory COVID-19 vaccination. Respondents in the treatment group (n = 278) read the same message but they were reminded that a variety of vaccine mandates for measles, mumps, rubella, and polio have long been required. Afterwards, both groups were asked about their support for COVID-19 vaccine mandate. RESULTS: A multivariate ordinary least squares regression analysis revealed that the experimental treatment had a positive and statistically significant impact on support for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination (p < 0.001). We also found that COVID-19 vaccination status, religious identity, and political affiliation have a statistically significant effect. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a simple intervention-reminding the public of the existing vaccine mandates-increases support for COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Public health authorities who seek to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates could utilize this approach.

Attitudes Towards COVID-19 Vaccine: A Survey of Health Care Workers in Oman.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy among health care workers (HCWs) is widely reported. Here we report on the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy and the factors associated with it in a sample of non-vaccinated HCWs. Data from 433 not vaccinated medical and non-medical HCWs from various health care facilities after the introduction of COVID-19 vaccination in Oman were analyzed. Most of the participants were nurses (41.5%) followed by physicians (37.5%) and non-medical HCWs (21%). Forty percent of HCWs were willing to uptake the COVID-19 vaccines. Physicians and male HCWs had more positive attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccines than nurses and female HCWs. Concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines including unknown health issues, efficacy and safety were stated by the participants. Our results show a low level of willingness to uptake the COVID-19 vaccines among HCWs, an issue that must be urgently addressed.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Assessment of an Arabic Version of the Health Care Provider HIV/AIDS Stigma Scale.

HIV stigma among health care providers in the Arab world is understudied due to a lack of valid and reliable measures. Data from 352 Egyptian physicians was used to validate an Arabic version of the Health Care Provider HIV/AIDS Stigma Scale (HPASS). Exploratory factor analysis (n = 1 9 4) suggested a 3 -factor structure. Confirmatory factor analysis (n = 1 5 8) validated the three-factor solution with 18 items, which explained 5 3 .3 6% of the variance. All items loaded on their designated constructs, which ranged from 0 .58 to 0 .82 (prejudice) to 0 .58 to 0 .66 (stereotypes) and 0 .52 to 0 .91 (discrimination). The prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination subscales consisted of seven, five, and six items, respectively. The internal consistency (α = 0 .9 0) and the test-retest reliability demonstrated (r = 0 .9 5) were excellent. The cultural adaptation of the Arabic version of HPASS suggests that it is a suitable scale for assessing HIV stigma among Arab health care providers.

The mental health of health care workers in Oman during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 disease is one of the most destructive events that humanity has witnessed in the 21st century. It has impacted all aspects of life and all segments of populations, including already vulnerable health care providers. AIMS: This study sought to detect the prevalence of mental health issues in sample of physicians and nurses working in several health facilities in Oman. METHOD: We gauged the mental health conditions of 509 physicians (38.1%) and nurses (61.9 %) using the Perceived Stress Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and World Health Organization Well-Being Index. RESULTS: The study revealed a high prevalence of stress, anxiety and poor psychological well-being, especially among females, young health care workers and those who interacted with known or suspected COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of this study support the handful of studies published during this global health crisis that have found that the mental health of health care workers has been harshly affected and predicted that it will continue, to various degrees, to be affected in the foreseeable future. The results of this study highlight the urgency of providing administrative and psychological support as well as current and accurate information on COVID-19 to health care workers.

Parenting Young Arab Children: Psychometric Properties of an Adapted Arabic Brief Version of the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire.

Research has shown a connection between negative parenting practices and child conduct problems. One of the most commonly used measures to assess parenting practices is the Alabama parenting questionnaire (APQ). The current study aimed to culturally adapt and assess the psychometric properties of a short version of the APQ for use in Arabic cultures, using a sample of 251 Qatari parents of children ages 4-12. An exploratory factor analysis proposed a five-model solution that corresponds to the original proposed model in the full version of the APQ. The five constructs of the APQ correlated in the expected direction with the Conduct Problem Subscale from the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. This study provides support for the utility of the 15-item short version of the APQ in Arabic cultures. More studies are needed to validate the performance of the short version of APQ in clinical settings.

Attitudes Toward Restricting the Sexual and Reproductive Rights of Women Living With HIV Infection in Yemen.

A considerable amount of research has demonstrated the pervasive and destructive power of discrimination against people living with HIV, which limits their full and equal participation in society. This study surveyed 613 young adults from Yemen about their attitudes toward the sexual and reproductive rights of women living with HIV (WLWH). Among survey respondents, 80% believed that WLWH should be sterilized and not allowed to get married. Furthermore, 62% thought that WLWH should be forced to have abortions if they became pregnant. Men were more likely than women to impose restrictions on the sexual and reproductive rights of WLWH. HIV stigma predicted respondent attitudes toward WLWH, but religiosity and knowledge about HIV did not. The results of the study have implications for developing programs to protect and promote the rights of WLWH in Yemen.

"I want to stand on my own legs": A qualitative study of antiretroviral therapy adherence among HIV-positive women in Egypt.

A review of the antiretroviral therapy (ART) literature revealed that not a single published study has examined the factors that influence patients' adherence to HIV medications in the Arab world. To mend this gap, this qualitative study collected data via face-to-face interviews with 27 HIV-positive Egyptian women who had been on ART for at least three months. Using a thematic analysis technique, five themes were identified: fear of stigma, financial constraints, characteristics of ART, social support, and reliance on faith. Notwithstanding the overwhelming number of inhibiting factors, most patients in this study were highly motivated to achieve perfect adherence.

Stigmatization of persons with HIV/AIDS in Saudi Arabia.

Data about the stigmatization of persons living with HIV/AIDS in Saudi Arabia are scarce. Recent statistics from Saudi Ministry of Health showed that 77% of HIV-positive Saudis were males. The present study analyzed data from 162 Saudi male college students. The findings suggest that students who knew less about HIV/AIDS were more likely to stigmatize persons living with HIV/AIDS than those who knew more. Neither degree of religiosity nor worry about HIV infection was related to AIDS stigma. However, AIDS-related shame was the best predictor of AIDS stigma. The findings of this study point to important suggestions for AIDS prevention programs in Saudi Arabia.

Development of a Yemeni AIDS Stigma Scale.

Research on the social and behavioral aspects of AIDS in the Arab world is relatively scarce despite the efforts of a few scholars over the last quarter century. AIDS-related stigma and discrimination are especially important areas that have received little attention. One critical barrier to undertaking such research has been the absence of an Arabic instrument to employ this work. The current study addressed this gap by developing and implementing an Arabic AIDS Stigma Scale that consisted of 10 items. The data were collected from college students at a public university in Yemen. Principle axis factor analysis identified two factors with five items each that explained 35% of the variance. The availability of the Yemeni AIDS Stigma Scale (YASS) should be a valuable resource for scholars interested in AIDS-related research in Yemen and the rest of the Arab world.

Attribution and helping behavior: testing the attribution-affect-help judgment model in a Saudi sample.

A review of the literature on Weiner's attributional theory indicates that the theory has not been tested in Arabic cultures. The present study examined the reactions of Saudi men toward a friend with AIDS, using Weiner's attributional theory of social motivation. A sample of 298 Saudi men read two different vignettes about a friend with AIDS, in which the cause of AIDS was manipulated. Then the assignment of responsibility, reactions of anger and pity, and participants' willingness to provide help were measured.