Acceptance, Perceptions, and Attitudes of Medical Students and the General Population on COVID-۱۹’s Existence and Vaccination: a Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: COVID-۱۹ has spread worldwide, affecting all continents and impacting several sectors of society. In the DRC, poor barriers to adherence and low vaccination coverage were some of the challenges faced during COVID-۱۹. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the acceptance, perceptions, and attitudes towards the existence of COVID-۱۹ and the vaccine between medical students and the general population .Methods: An on-site cross-sectional survey was conducted in late ۲۰۲۱ among medical students and the general population of Kinshasa. A ۲۳-item questionnaire was administered to participants for convenience sampling. The questionnaire focused on sociodemographic data, perceptions, and attitudes towards COVID-۱۹ and vaccine acceptance. Mann-Whitney U and Pearson chi-square tests were used to determine associations between different variables, and logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of vaccine acceptance.Results: Of the ۴۳۹ respondents, ۲۲۳ (۵۰.۸%) were medical students, and ۱۸۱ (۴۱.۲%) were female. The median patient age was ۲۳ years. Overall, perceptions and attitudes were better among the medical students. The acceptance rate of the free vaccine was ۵۱.۵%, higher among medical students (p<۰.۰۱). However, ۶.۸% of the population reported having received the vaccine. Believing that the vaccine is beneficial (OR = ۴.۴), accepting that the vaccine is compulsory (OR = ۴.۰), and believing that the existence of COVID-۱۹ in the DRC (OR = ۳.۱) were the most associated with vaccine acceptance .Conclusion: Awareness-raising actions, medical education, and access to information play crucial roles in managing health crises. More effective strategies are a priority for strengthening community engagement and adherence to health measures.

Keywords:

COVID-۱۹ , Vaccine Acceptance , Perceptions , attitudes , Medical students , DR Congo