Internationale Zeitschrift für öffentliche Gesundheit und Sicherheit

Knowledge, Perceptions, and Practices of Medical Students at Kitwe Teaching Hospital Regarding the COVID-19 Vaccine

Abstract

Mulenga A. Chanda*

Background: On the 30^th of January, 2020 the respiratory tract infecting disease caused by the novel coronavirus now called COVID-19 (i.e. the short form for Corona virus disease 2019), was declared globally a public health emergency. In this regard, medical students can be a sufficient and reliable source of information. The main aim of the study is to ascertain the “knowledge perceptions and practices of medical students at Kitwe teaching hospital regarding the COVID-19 Vaccine”. Healthcare students, most of whom in some cases are called upon to help as front-line health workers would not only need sufficient knowledge about a crisis such as the one we are facing, but also prioritization in the vaccination protocol. This research thus seeks to help in identifying possible concerns that need attention to deep awareness as well as encourage sufficient vaccination uptake from members of this group.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and perceptions of medical students regarding the COVID-19 vaccine at Kitwe Teaching Hospital (KTH).

Methodology: A cross-sectional survey design was employed as the study only observed what was on the ground. The sample size was calculated to be approximately 150. The study employed an online self administered questionnaire in compliance with existing public health requirements like social distancing and reduced person to person interactions. After collecting the data, entry of the data and analysis was carried out using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 26.

Results: Out of the calculated sample size of 150, a total of 141 individuals were interviewed making the response rate to be 94%. The majority were male 87 (62.1%) while only 53 (37.9%) females took part in the study. Different age groups took part and the highest frequency was recorded for the age group 21-25 years with 97 (67.8%) participants. The acceptance rate for the COVID-19 vaccine among the study participants was 58.2% with 48.9% willing to take the vaccine when their turn came. From the data analyzed, the knowledge levels were good with 73.8% of the participants having good knowledge of COVID-19 vaccination. This study also found that 55% of medical students were willing to play a role in the fight against COVID-19 if given a chance to, 16.1% were not willing and 28% were not sure.

Conclusion and recommendation: Medical students at KTH showed good knowledge levels and positive attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination, with 73.8% of the participants having good knowledge and the acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccine among the study participants being 58.2% with 48,9% willing to take the vaccine when their turn came. In addition, they were willing to play a role given the chance. Some of the students still held on to misconceptions about the vaccine with ideas most likely obtained from non-academic sources which shouldn't be the case among medical students.