Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward seasonal influenza vaccine among college students under the COVID-19 pandemic in South China

Abstract

Background: The control measures of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had influenced the activity of the influenza virus, and we were wondering the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward seasonal influenza vaccine among college students were having at the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Online questionnaire survey of the college students was conducted and the data was collected anonymously, cross-sectional study were used to describe the distribution of the KAP.

Results: There were 815 respondents in our study. Most participants have a high recognition of the effectiveness and safety of the influenza vaccine. However, a low awareness rate of influenza vaccine knowledge and vaccination rate (18%) against influenza was observed among college students. The education level and major would have a higher weight on the influence of KAP among the college students. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the sex (OR = 2.163, p < .001), age (OR = 2.242, p < .001), heard of the influenza vaccine (OR = 2.655, p = .014), and "How necessary do you think vaccinating every year is?" (OR = 3.947, p < .001) of the college students were the main factors that affect the KAP on influenza vaccination.

Conclusions: Our study provided an insight into the KAP of influenza vaccine among college students in South China. The vaccination rate and acceptability of influenza vaccine in college students are higher than that in the whole population.

Keywords: attitudes and practices (KAP); coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); influenza; knowledge; vaccine.