A research on intention to accept COVID-19 vaccines and its influencing factors among nursing students of Bagmati province , Nepal.

Research Report.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in over one million infected worldwide and thousands of deaths. COVID-19 can result in systemic inflammation, multiorgan dysfunction, and critical illness. Experiencing the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic, high vaccination coverage by a safe and effective vaccine globally would be a great achievement. Universities are considered high risk areas for COVID-19 outbreaks given the crowded environment of campuses with high mobility and limited space. Acceptance of vaccination by nursing students is an important issue as they play a decisive role as future professionals in educating patients, counselling and also represent a significant part of the health-care community and are active members of COVID-19 response.

Methods: Institution based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among nursing students of nursing Colleges of Bagmati Province. Semi-structured self-administered questionnaire was developed to assess intention to accept covid-19 vaccines and its influencing factors among nursing students of Bagmati province, Nepal. Proportionate random sampling was used to obtain required sample from students from those nursing colleges. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential (chi-square and binary logistic regression) statistical tools. P-value <0.05 was consider as statistically significant.

Results: Nursing students who were unwilling to vaccinate against COVID-19 is 2.8%. There is statistically significant between intend to get a COVID-19 vaccination and level of knowledge(p=<0.001), perceived barriers of COVID-19 vaccination (p=0.028). There is statistically significant between students‟ fear of COVID-19 and ethnicity (p=0.004), Family income(p=0.012), academic year of the respondents (p=<0.001). Concern about knowledge on COVID-19, perceived barrier of COVID-19, and students‟ fear of COVID-19 were significant influencing factors of intend to get COVID-19 vaccination.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that COVID-19 vaccination acceptance is related to the vaccination knowledge of the nursing students. Targeted vaccination campaigns are needed to improve nurses‟ vaccination knowledge in order to achieve a better coverage among them.

Keywords: accept COVID-19 vaccines; COVID-19; Intention, Nursing students