Knowledge, attitude and practice survey towards COVID-19 vaccination: A mediation analysis

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound global impact, necessitating effective containment strategies.
• Vaccination is a key measure to control the pandemic, especially in densely populated countries like India.
• Understanding public Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) is vital for designing successful vaccination programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the KAP factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake among the Indian population.
• To identify the relationships between knowledge, attitude, intention, and practice regarding COVID-19 vaccination.
• To inform the development of targeted interventions for enhancing vaccine acceptance.

Main Methods:

• An online questionnaire was administered to Indian respondents (n=221).
• The study assessed participants' knowledge of COVID-19 and vaccination.
• Attitudes, intentions, and decisions regarding COVID-19 vaccine uptake were evaluated.

Main Results:

• Existing knowledge directly influenced attitude and intention towards vaccination.
• Attitude and intention significantly predicted the practice of vaccination.
• Attitude and intention acted as primary mediators between knowledge and vaccination practice, with no direct effect of knowledge on practice.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 vaccination decisions are strongly linked to participants' attitudes and intentions.
• Positive, person-centric interventions that leverage existing knowledge are essential for improving vaccine acceptance in India.
• The findings underscore the critical role of attitude and intention in the success of vaccination programs.