Assessing prevalence, knowledge, attitude, and practices associated with influenza vaccination among the people residing in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Objectives: To understand the attitude and knowledge regarding influenza vaccine is crucial for developing effective vaccination strategies to improve public health outcomes. Seasonal influenza is a widespread, preventable infection caused by influenza viruses, particularly affecting vulnerable populations.

Methods: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence, knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding influenza vaccination in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia.

Results: A total of 402 participants were surveyed, with the majority being female (80.3%) and Saudi nationals (97.3%). Our results revealed that 69.4% of the participants had been vaccinated, yet significant gaps remained in knowledge, especially regarding high-risk groups and vaccine side effects. Although 97% had heard of the influenza vaccine, only half of the participants were aware of its side effects. Moreover, 58.8% of the unvaccinated believed that their immune systems could naturally fight off the infection. Attitudes towards vaccination were generally positive, with 76.2% adhering to preventive measures. However, misconceptions persisted, particularly regarding vaccine safety and the perceived severity of influenza. Marital status being widowed was a significant predictor (estimate; 95% confidence interval; p-value) for low knowledge score (-1.46; -2.54, -0.38; p=0.008) whereas, having already taken the influenza vaccine was a significant predictor for higher score (1.15; 0.73, 1.56; p<0.001). For every unit increase in the knowledge score, the influenza vaccination hesitancy odds increased by 1.83 times, which was statistically significant.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that while awareness of influenza and its vaccine is relatively high, significant misconceptions remain, highlighting the need for targeted health education initiatives to address these gaps and increase regional vaccination coverage.