Simon Saw, Min Kaung Myat, Latt Tun Zaw, Moe Pa Pa, Tun Kyaw Myo
Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of Bedfordshire, Luton, United Kingdom.
University Research Co., LLC (URC), Eliminate Malaria Burma Project, Yangon, Myanmar.
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2023 Aug 3;3(8):e0002162. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002162. eCollection 2023.
The global pandemic situation of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has been ongoing for more than 2 years with the emergence of different variants. With the rapid development of vaccines, countries including Myanmar rolled out vaccination programs to reduce the morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 with the ultimate goal to end the pandemic. This study seeks to explore the acceptance of the general adult population towards the COVID-19 vaccines administered by the Ministry of Health, and barriers to vaccine acceptance. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted by adopting valid and reliable questionnaires from similar studies around the world. Simple random sampling was used to select 288 participants from 12 townships of Rakhine State, Myanmar. The interview was performed using standardized paper-based documents. While the data entry and manipulation were performed using Microsoft Excel, the data analysis process was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. As descriptive statistics, the level of vaccine acceptance, and barriers to vaccine acceptance were calculated. Chi-square analysis and bivariate logistics regression was performed to explore the associated socio-demographic characteristics, COVID-19 and vaccine-related experience, and perceptions of participants on the health belief model (HBM) domains related to vaccine acceptance. A total of 276 participants entered the study and revealed an overall vaccine acceptance level of 91.3%. Higher level of education, working in skilled manual and sales services, monthly income of more than 200,000 MMK (111 USD), history of previous vaccination, not experiencing side effects of vaccine after previous immunization, and elements of the health belief model (HBM) were associated with higher vaccine acceptance. The barriers to vaccine acceptance were mistrust of the efficacy of vaccines and potential major adverse events of COVID-19 vaccines. The high level of vaccine acceptance among the general population in Rakhine state provides an opportunity for health authorities to achieve high vaccination coverage within the community. Nevertheless, the vaccine-related education campaigns should be targeted and conveyed frequently to the sub-groups of the population with vaccine hesitancy to obtain the highest achievable level of vaccine coverage within the community for the ultimate goal to end the pandemic.
严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2，即新冠病毒）引发的全球大流行已持续两年多，期间出现了不同变种。随着疫苗的迅速发展，包括缅甸在内的各国纷纷推出疫苗接种计划，以降低新冠病毒导致的发病率和死亡率，最终目标是结束这场大流行。本研究旨在探讨一般成年人群对卫生部接种新冠疫苗的接受情况以及疫苗接受的障碍。通过采用来自世界各地类似研究的有效且可靠的问卷进行了一项定量横断面研究。使用简单随机抽样从缅甸若开邦的12个乡镇中选取了288名参与者。访谈使用标准化纸质文件进行。数据录入和处理使用Microsoft Excel，数据分析过程使用社会科学统计软件包（SPSS）软件。作为描述性统计，计算了疫苗接受水平和疫苗接受障碍。进行卡方分析和双变量逻辑回归，以探讨相关的社会人口学特征、新冠病毒及疫苗相关经历，以及参与者对与疫苗接受相关的健康信念模型（HBM）领域的认知。共有276名参与者进入研究，总体疫苗接受水平为91.3%。较高的教育水平、从事熟练体力劳动和销售服务工作、月收入超过200,000缅元（111美元）、既往接种史、既往免疫后未出现疫苗副作用以及健康信念模型（HBM）的要素与较高的疫苗接受度相关。疫苗接受的障碍是对疫苗效力的不信任以及新冠疫苗潜在的重大不良事件。若开邦普通人群中较高的疫苗接受水平为卫生当局在社区内实现高疫苗接种覆盖率提供了机会。然而，应针对有疫苗犹豫情况的人群亚组开展有针对性且频繁的疫苗相关教育活动，以在社区内实现最高可达到的疫苗接种覆盖率，最终目标是结束大流行。
