Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Institute for Global Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Front Public Health. 2024 Oct 11;12:1383293. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1383293. eCollection 2024.
Seasonal influenza continues to pose a substantial public health challenge for older adults residing in rural areas worldwide. Vaccination remains the most efficacious means of preventing influenza. This study aimed to investigate the extent of influenza vaccine coverage and identify the factors influencing vaccine uptake among older adults in rural regions of south China.
A cross-sectional study utilizing convenience sampling was conducted in two rural sites in Guangdong Province. Individuals needed to meet specific inclusion criteria: (1) attainment of 60 years of age or older; (2) originating from rural households; (3) demonstrating a voluntary desire to partake in the survey, either through written or verbal informed consent. Data encompassed variables such as socio-demographic information, influenza infection and vaccination history, knowledge and attitudes toward influenza vaccination, and perceived beliefs regarding the influenza vaccine. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to ascertain the factors associated with influenza vaccine utilization. In the multivariable model, adjustments were made for gender, age, legal marital status, highest educational attainment, and monthly income.
A total of 423 participants were ultimately included in this study, with the majority falling within the age range of 60-75 years (81.3%). Only one-third of the participants had received an influenza vaccine in the past year (30.0%). Notably, nearly half of the older adults exhibited hesitancy toward influenza vaccination (45.1%). The multivariable analysis revealed that rural older people with a robust understanding of influenza vaccines and a positive attitude toward them (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.60, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.41-4.81), along with a high level of trust in vaccination service providers (aOR = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.01-6.63), were positively associated with receiving influenza vaccination in the past year.
This study reveals a low rate of influenza vaccine uptake among older adults residing in rural areas of south China. Given the limited adoption of influenza vaccination and the significant threat it poses, there is an urgent imperative to devise precise interventions aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of influenza vaccination programs.
季节性流感仍然对全球农村地区的老年人构成重大公共卫生挑战。接种疫苗仍然是预防流感最有效的方法。本研究旨在调查中国南方农村地区老年人流感疫苗接种的范围，并确定影响疫苗接种率的因素。
本研究采用横断面研究，利用便利抽样法在广东省的两个农村地区进行。参与者需要符合以下特定纳入标准：（1）年满 60 岁或以上；（2）来自农村家庭；（3）通过书面或口头知情同意自愿参与调查。数据包括社会人口统计学信息、流感感染和疫苗接种史、对流感疫苗接种的知识和态度以及对流感疫苗的感知信念等变量。采用单变量和多变量逻辑回归分析确定与流感疫苗利用相关的因素。在多变量模型中，调整了性别、年龄、合法婚姻状况、最高教育程度和月收入。
最终纳入了 423 名参与者，其中大多数年龄在 60-75 岁之间（81.3%）。在过去一年中，只有三分之一的参与者接种了流感疫苗（30.0%）。值得注意的是，近一半的老年人对接种流感疫苗犹豫不决（45.1%）。多变量分析显示，对流感疫苗有深入了解且对其持积极态度的农村老年人（调整后的优势比[aOR] = 2.60，95%置信区间[CI]：1.41-4.81），以及对疫苗接种服务提供者高度信任的老年人（aOR = 2.58，95% CI：1.01-6.63），与过去一年接受流感疫苗接种呈正相关。
本研究揭示了中国南方农村地区老年人流感疫苗接种率较低。鉴于流感疫苗接种的采用有限且存在重大威胁，迫切需要制定精确的干预措施，以提高流感疫苗接种计划的效果。
