Factors associated with COVID appropriate behavior and vaccine acceptability – A community-based cross-sectional study among slum dwellers

Abstract

Background/objectivesTo combat the pandemic, the World Health Organization promoted COVID appropriate behaviors as well as vaccination. This study assessed the uptake of such behaviours as well as vaccine acceptance/hesitancy among slum dwellers during the pandemic. MethodsOf a total of 27 slums in Udupi taluk, six were randomly selected in this cross-sectional study. Following informed consent, data collection was carried out between February–October 2022. Tools included a sociodemographic proforma, COVID-19 appropriate behaviour tool and vaccine acceptability/hesitancy tool developed by Kumari et al. Using convenience sampling, 387 adult participants from slum settings were included. ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 42.74 ± 1.58 years and female participants accounted for 48.1%. About 49.1% participants were educated up to the primary level and 80.9% were unskilled workers. Regarding behaviors, wearing a mask in public was most frequently followed (68.2%) followed by maintaining physical distancing in public (30%). A total of 346 i.e., 89.4% had taken at least one dose and 305 (78.8%) participants had received both doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The fear of income reduction and job loss (65%) predominated which was significantly associated at p < 0.0001 and their socio-economic status was associated with vaccination uptake at p = 0.046. An important driver for vaccine uptake was the intervention of the ASHA. ConclusionsOverall, we found vaccine acceptance was high with several drivers leading to vaccine uptake. The trust in the healthcare workers, particularly ASHA, was an important finding of the study highlighting the effectiveness of the work undertaken by them.