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Knowledge and Attitude Towards COVID-19 Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study of Students at a Tertiary Educational Institution in Nigeria

Received: 2 June 2024     Accepted: 20 June 2024     Published: 26 June 2024
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Abstract

The level of the COVID-19 vaccine uptake in African countries and especially Nigeria is still considerably low, when compared with other developed countries, despite the established fact on its efficacy in protecting the populace from the negative consequences of the disease. This research investigated the knowledge and attitudes of students at Ondo State College of Health Technology regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Adopting a descriptive survey design, the study targeted Technician students from six departments, with 300 participants selected via random sampling. Data were gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire, “Trainee Health Workers Knowledge and Attitude Questionnaire,” addressing four research questions and seven hypotheses. Frequency counts, percentages, and charts were used for analysis, while Chi Square was used to test hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed a high acceptance rate of the COVID-19 vaccine among students, though fewer had taken the second and booster doses. Participants demonstrated high knowledge and positive attitudes toward the vaccine, with low levels of misconceptions. Gender and age did not significantly influence students' knowledge or attitudes. However, the course of study significantly affected their knowledge and attitudes toward the vaccine. Additionally, there was a significant relationship between knowledge and attitude, indicating that knowledge does not necessarily equate to willingness to accept the vaccine. Recommendations included increasing exposure to valid information about the COVID-19 vaccine and conducting college-wide sensitization campaigns to persuade unvaccinated students by emphasizing the vaccine's importance. These efforts should particularly target those with remaining misconceptions.

Published in European Journal of Preventive Medicine (Volume 12, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ejpm.20241203.12
Page(s) 70-80
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Students, Knowledge of COVID-19, Attitude Towards COVID-19

References
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[3] Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. (2020). First Case of Coronavirus Disease Confirmed in Nigeria. Retrieved from
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[5] Jatau, A. I., Wada, A. S., Bala, A. M., et al. (2021). Vaccine Hesitancy Amongst Medical and Paramedical Students in Nigeria. African Journal of Health Sciences, 22(3), 57-63.
[6] Gerend, M. A. & Shepherd, J. E. (2012) Predicting human papillomavirus vaccine uptake in young adult women: comparing the health belief model and theory of planned behavior. Ann Behav Med; 44(2): 171–180.
[7] Phillips, N. (2021. The coronavirus is here to stay-here’s what that means. Nature; 590 (7846): 382–384.
[8] Moddassir, A., Loai, K. B. M.; Mohammad, T. A. & Mahdi, J. (2022). Public Attitude Towards COVID-19 Vaccination: Validation of COVID-Vaccination Attitude Scale (C-VAS). Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 2022: 15, 941–954.
[9] WHO. (2019). Ten threats to global health in 2019. World Health Organization.
[10] IFRC. (2020). COVID-19: Rapport sur les retours d’information de la communaute´.#7. Dakar: 2020 13 May, 2020. Report No: Contract No.: 7.
[11] Ovenseri-Ogbomo, G.; Ishaya, T.; Osuagwu, U. L.; Abu, E. K.; Nwaeze, O.; Oloruntoba, R.; et al (2020). Factors associated with the myth about 5G network during COVID-19 pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Global Health Reports.
[12] Aiyewumi O, Okeke MI. (2020). The myth that Nigerians are immune to SARS-CoV-2 and that COVID-19 is a hoax are putting lives at risk. J Glob Health. 2020 Dec; 10(2): 020375.
[13] British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Coronavirus: What misinformation has spread in Africa? 2020 (updated 2020 April 24, February 17, 2021).
[14] Syan, S. K.; Gohari, M. R.; Levitt, E. E.; Belisario, K.; Gillard, J.; DeJesus, J. & MacKillop, J. (2021) COVID-19 Vaccine Perceptions and Differences by Sex, Age, and Education in 1,367 Community Adults in Ontario. Front. Public Health 9: 719665.
[15] WHO. (2022). COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update. Retrieved from
[16] WHO. (2022). COVID-19 Dashboard. World Health Organization.
[17] Leela, P., et al. (2021). High Acceptance Rate of COVID-19 Vaccine Among Medical Students in Kerala. Journal of Medical Sciences.
[18] Li, L., Cheng, Y., Tao, C., Chen, H., & Zeng, X. (2022). Knowledge and Attitudes Towards COVID-19 Vaccine Among Geriatric Care Facility Staff in Anhui Province, China. Journal of Geriatric Studies.
[19] Bono, S. A., Faria de Moura Villela, E., Siau, C. S., Chen, W. S., Pengpid, S., Hasan, M. T.,... & Dube, E. (2021). Factors Affecting COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance: An International Survey Among Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Vaccines, 9(5), 515.
[20] Syan, S. K., Gohar, B., Munoz-Baena, A., Motz, T., & Lavis, J. N. (2021). Age Differences in COVID-19 Knowledge and Misconceptions Among Ontario Residents. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 112(3), 396-403.
[21] Yoda, T., & Katsuyama, H. (2021). Willingness to Receive COVID-19 Vaccination in Japan. Vaccines, 9(1), 48.
[22] Barello, S., Nania, T., Dellafiore, F., Graffigna, G., & Caruso, R. (2020). ‘Vaccine Hesitancy’ among University Students in Italy during the COVID-19 Pandemic. European Journal of Epidemiology, 35(8), 781-783.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Daniel, E. O., Olawale, O. O., Bello, A. M., Tomori, M. O., Avwerhota, M., et al. (2024). Knowledge and Attitude Towards COVID-19 Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study of Students at a Tertiary Educational Institution in Nigeria. European Journal of Preventive Medicine, 12(3), 70-80. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20241203.12

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    ACS Style

    Daniel, E. O.; Olawale, O. O.; Bello, A. M.; Tomori, M. O.; Avwerhota, M., et al. Knowledge and Attitude Towards COVID-19 Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study of Students at a Tertiary Educational Institution in Nigeria. Eur. J. Prev. Med. 2024, 12(3), 70-80. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20241203.12

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    AMA Style

    Daniel EO, Olawale OO, Bello AM, Tomori MO, Avwerhota M, et al. Knowledge and Attitude Towards COVID-19 Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study of Students at a Tertiary Educational Institution in Nigeria. Eur J Prev Med. 2024;12(3):70-80. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20241203.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ejpm.20241203.12,
      author = {Ebenezer Obi Daniel and Oluseyi Oludamilola Olawale and Ahmed Mamuda Bello and Michael Olabode Tomori and Michael Avwerhota and Israel Olukayode Popoola and Adebanke Adetutu Ogun and Taiwo Aderemi Popoola and Aisha Oluwakemi Salami and Olukayode Oladeji Alewi and Celestine Emeka Ekwuluo},
      title = {Knowledge and Attitude Towards COVID-19 Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study of Students at a Tertiary Educational Institution in Nigeria
    },
      journal = {European Journal of Preventive Medicine},
      volume = {12},
      number = {3},
      pages = {70-80},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ejpm.20241203.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20241203.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ejpm.20241203.12},
      abstract = {The level of the COVID-19 vaccine uptake in African countries and especially Nigeria is still considerably low, when compared with other developed countries, despite the established fact on its efficacy in protecting the populace from the negative consequences of the disease. This research investigated the knowledge and attitudes of students at Ondo State College of Health Technology regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Adopting a descriptive survey design, the study targeted Technician students from six departments, with 300 participants selected via random sampling. Data were gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire, “Trainee Health Workers Knowledge and Attitude Questionnaire,” addressing four research questions and seven hypotheses. Frequency counts, percentages, and charts were used for analysis, while Chi Square was used to test hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed a high acceptance rate of the COVID-19 vaccine among students, though fewer had taken the second and booster doses. Participants demonstrated high knowledge and positive attitudes toward the vaccine, with low levels of misconceptions. Gender and age did not significantly influence students' knowledge or attitudes. However, the course of study significantly affected their knowledge and attitudes toward the vaccine. Additionally, there was a significant relationship between knowledge and attitude, indicating that knowledge does not necessarily equate to willingness to accept the vaccine. Recommendations included increasing exposure to valid information about the COVID-19 vaccine and conducting college-wide sensitization campaigns to persuade unvaccinated students by emphasizing the vaccine's importance. These efforts should particularly target those with remaining misconceptions.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Knowledge and Attitude Towards COVID-19 Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study of Students at a Tertiary Educational Institution in Nigeria
    
    AU  - Ebenezer Obi Daniel
    AU  - Oluseyi Oludamilola Olawale
    AU  - Ahmed Mamuda Bello
    AU  - Michael Olabode Tomori
    AU  - Michael Avwerhota
    AU  - Israel Olukayode Popoola
    AU  - Adebanke Adetutu Ogun
    AU  - Taiwo Aderemi Popoola
    AU  - Aisha Oluwakemi Salami
    AU  - Olukayode Oladeji Alewi
    AU  - Celestine Emeka Ekwuluo
    Y1  - 2024/06/26
    PY  - 2024
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20241203.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ejpm.20241203.12
    T2  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
    JF  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
    JO  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
    SP  - 70
    EP  - 80
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8230
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20241203.12
    AB  - The level of the COVID-19 vaccine uptake in African countries and especially Nigeria is still considerably low, when compared with other developed countries, despite the established fact on its efficacy in protecting the populace from the negative consequences of the disease. This research investigated the knowledge and attitudes of students at Ondo State College of Health Technology regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Adopting a descriptive survey design, the study targeted Technician students from six departments, with 300 participants selected via random sampling. Data were gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire, “Trainee Health Workers Knowledge and Attitude Questionnaire,” addressing four research questions and seven hypotheses. Frequency counts, percentages, and charts were used for analysis, while Chi Square was used to test hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed a high acceptance rate of the COVID-19 vaccine among students, though fewer had taken the second and booster doses. Participants demonstrated high knowledge and positive attitudes toward the vaccine, with low levels of misconceptions. Gender and age did not significantly influence students' knowledge or attitudes. However, the course of study significantly affected their knowledge and attitudes toward the vaccine. Additionally, there was a significant relationship between knowledge and attitude, indicating that knowledge does not necessarily equate to willingness to accept the vaccine. Recommendations included increasing exposure to valid information about the COVID-19 vaccine and conducting college-wide sensitization campaigns to persuade unvaccinated students by emphasizing the vaccine's importance. These efforts should particularly target those with remaining misconceptions.
    
    VL  - 12
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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