The role of health locus of control, health literacy and people attitudes regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination

Abstract

Vaccination is of great importance for public health, and widespread acceptance of vaccination may help control the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic more effectively. In order to vaccinate a wide range of people, it is vital to know their views and the factors influencing their behavior. This study was designed to characterize people’s views regarding corona virus (COVID-19) vaccination, health locus of control, and health literacy in Iran. This cross-sectional study included 384 people aged 18 to 60 years who attended comprehensive health service centers (Public centers). People were included in the study by stratified random sampling. The tool for data collection was a questionnaire that included demographic questions, questions to examine people’s views on corona virus vaccination, and standard questionnaire items on health locus of control and health literacy. The collected data were entered into SPSS 20 and analyzed with descriptive and analytical tests (Spearman’s correlation coefficient and logistic regression model). The average age of the participants was 33.35 ± 11.38 years. Most people (57.9%) were married and had some level of higher education (60.4%). Most people (86.2%) had a history of receiving the vaccine and had a positive attitude towards vaccination. On average, 41.8% of people had sufficient health literacy. Women had a more positive attitude towards vaccination (P>0.001). Also, health literacy in basic skills was found to have a significant positive relationship with internal health locus of control (P>0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that the variables, including attitude (OR=1.092, P=0.001), internal health locus of control (OR=1.072, P=0.001), and health literacy (OR=1.25, P=0.001) were predictors of receiving the vaccine. Considering that health literacy improves people’s positive attitude towards vaccines and plays a key role in adopting healthy behaviors, the present findings emphasize that programs organized for the general public should include a strategy to promote health literacy.