COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and confidence in the Philippines and Malaysia: A cross-sectional study of sociodemographic factors and digital health literacy

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000742
• Publication Date: 2022-10-19T17:29:34Z
• Authors: Ken Brackstone; Roy R. Marzo; Rafidah Bahari; Michael G. Head; Mark E. Patalinghug; Tin T. Su
• Keywords: Cross-sectional study; Pandemic

With the emergence of highly transmissible Omicron variant, large-scale vaccination coverage is crucial to national and global pandemic response, especially in populous Southeast Asian countries such as Philippines Malaysia where new information often received digitally. The main aims this research were determine levels hesitancy confidence COVID-19 vaccines among general adults Malaysia, identify individual, behavioural, or environmental predictors significantly associated with these outcomes. Data from an internet-based cross-sectional survey 2558 participants (N = 1002) 1556) analysed. Results showed that Filipino (56.6%) exhibited higher than Malaysians (22.9%; p < 0.001). However, there no significant differences ratings between (45.9%) Malaysian (49.2%) (p 0.105). Predictors vaccine included women (OR, 1.50, 95% CI, 1.03-1.83; 0.030) rural dwellers 1.44, 1.07-1.94; 0.016). Among participants, was 1.14-1.99; 0.004), social media use 11.76, 5.71-24.19; 0.001), online information-seeking behaviours 2.48, 1.72-3.58; subjective status 1.13, 1.54-1.22; whereas education 1.30, 1.03-1.66; 0.028) negatively 0.64, 0.47-0.87; 0.005) 0.42, 0.31-0.57; Efforts should focus on creating effective interventions decrease hesitancy, increase confidence, bolster uptake vaccination, particularly light Dengvaxia crisis Philippines.