A Cross Sectional Study to Assess Perception and Behavior towards COVID-19 Vaccine Among Students and Faculties of Nursing Colleges at Anand and Kheda Districts, Gujarat
Authors: Nagar Kailash , Selina Christian , Anushka Parmar , Devanshi Patel , Dhruti Bhatt , Jinal Dalwadi , Manjari Brahmbhatt , Janki Hiral 
Published: July 2021

Introduction

On 11 March 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) announce that COVID-19 as a pandemic health problem [1,2]. According to report on 25 January 2021, worldwide cases reached to 100 million [3]. The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in India was reported on 30, January 2020 in Kerala and affected individual had come from Wuhan, china [4]. Corona virus is spread over 220 countries across the world [2]. In order to prevent corona virus all the countries are taken initiative to prepare effective vaccine against corona virus. There is not any effective treatment is available for corona so far vaccine is the key preventive aspect against corona virus. There are presently above 125 vaccines go through pre-clinical investigation for covid-19[5].

India has develop two types of vaccine (Covaxin and covidshield) in primary phase and from 01 January 2021, Indian government started vaccination namely Covidshield to health workers (front line workers) [6]. So in primary stage target set to cover 30 million health workers followed by policeman and old age peoples to be vaccinated against corona [6]. During primary phase of corona vaccine we don’t have appropriate research and literature, about side effects and how far vaccine is reliable that why due so some miner side effect and negative media publicity peoples are very scared to take vaccine. So few peoples were started denial get vaccinated.

Aims

The current study is aimed to assess the perception and behavior towards Covid-19 vaccine among students and faculties of nursing colleges those who have taken vaccine against corona. The researcher wan to explore the positivity through the research result to reduce the negative mindset of the peoples toward corona vaccine, Because in India few peoples has fear to take vaccine against corona due to negative media publicity and scared of side effect.

Objective

To assess the existing level of perception toward COVID 19 vaccine among students and faculties of Nursing colleges at Anand and Kheda Districts.

To assess the behavior towards COVID 19 vaccine among students and faculties of Nursing colleges at Anand and Kheda Districts.

To find out the association between selected socio-demographic variables and perceptions towards COVID 19 vaccine.

Methodology

Design and Setting

Descriptive cross sectional survey research design was used and non-probability (snowball) sampling method was used to drawn samples through online Google form [7]. Due to Covid-19 pandemic situation research has adopted online snowball sampling method, where after tool validation from various subject experts, all questions were plots on Google form and inform consent form also has been conducted online prior to data collection from the samples[8].

Prior to data collection written setting permission obtain from nursing colleges principals, for the data collection researcher were selected total 03 nursing institutes which were namely Dinsha Patel College of Nursing, Vinayaka College of Nursing, Nadiad, Vinayaka College of Nursing, Anand, and Zydus College of nursing, Anand. The total sample size was 254 nursing college students and faculties.

The tool consist of following Section-01 Demographic variables, section-02 Nursing students and faculties information related to covid-19 vaccination during 1stand 2nddose and Section-3 Questions related to perception and behaviour towards COVID 19 vaccine.

Statistical Analysis used

Descriptive statistics applied where, data were analyzed by using SPSS software, and Frequency, percentage, tables etc. were used to represent the statistical data in the tables and graph and figure. Chi-square test was used to assess the significant association between the demographic and level of perception to test the hypothesis.

Results

Out of 254, 245(96.45%) were belong age 17-25 years, 219(86.22%) were females, 53(20.87%) were study Diploma course and 178(70.08%) were study degree course, 223(87.79%) belong to Hindu, religion, 227(89.37%) were Unmarried, 134(52.75%) were from urban area, and rest 120 (47.24%) belongs to Rural area. Sources of information about COVID 19 vaccine 109(42.92%) got from online media, 44(17.32%) from television, 243(95.67%) received free of cost corona vaccine, 199(78.35%) mindset was not influenced by negative media publicity about vaccine, 248(97.63%) do not have any co-morbidities. 219(86.22%) taken Covid-19 vaccine empty stomach.

221(87%) of samples were taken willingly vaccine, 205(80.71%) of samples were received covidshield vaccine and others 49(19.29%) were taken Covaxin, 109(42.91%) samples noticed mild fever, 53(20.87%) samples noticed moderate fever, 18(7.08%) noticed severe fever and rest 74(29.13%) didn’t noticed fever.

Conclusions

Regarding perception and behaviour towards COVID 19 vaccine, the majority of samples has good perception and behaviour, 74.00% has good perception and only 23.00 had moderate to poor perception, majority of participant were willingly taken vaccine and agree to recommend to others, not evidence any serious side effect due to vaccination.