Volume 26, Issue 130, December 2022

Seasonal influenza and its vaccine: Knowledge and attitudes of the general population in Makkah city, Saudi Arabia

Nahla H Hariri^♦

Department of Community Medicine and Health Care for Pilgrims, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah-24538, Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Community Medicine and Health Care for Pilgrims, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah-24538, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Background: Influenza is a significant factor to morbidity and mortality that is underreported. The rate of vaccination uptake is greatly influenced by the public's understanding of influenza. By increasing public knowledge of the illness and the availability of vaccinations, influenza vaccination uptake can be dramatically boosted. Objectives: To determine the degree of knowledge of the Saudi community concerning of influenza and its vaccine and their attitude with the underlying intention of identifying the key variables and obstacles that impede its acceptance. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving a social-media distributed web-based questionnaire was performed with 517 participants in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia. Results: Of the 517 respondents, 42.2% of the respondents had a good knowledge level based on the knowledge score. According to the regression analysis, working in the medical area (OR=3.45) and intention to go on a pilgrimage in the current year (OR=2.32), were the independent predictors of possessing a high level of knowledge of influenza and the associated vaccine. Avoiding drugs, being worried about the vaccine's negative effects, and believing that seasonal flu is not dangerous enough to merit vaccination were the impediments to getting the vaccine. Conclusion: More educational initiatives are required to promote influenza prevention.

Keywords: Seasonal influenza, knowledge, attitude, Barriers, Saudi Arabia

Medical Science, 2022, 26, ms520e2620

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v26i130/ms520e2620

Published: 09 December 2022