Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions towards COVID-19 Disease and Vaccinations: A Cross-sectional Study from a Developing Country

Background The world has faced challenges in persuading developing nations to adopt COVID-19 vaccines. Despite initial vaccine campaigns, COVID-19 is a global health crisis, and regional and population vaccination efforts vary. Knowledge, attitudes, and views regarding COVID-19 vaccination reveal how well the community understands its value and effectiveness. Public health strategies and efforts to boost vaccination rates depend on this understanding. Thus, this study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of adults from a developing country toward the COVID-19 vaccination and their post-vaccination experience. Methods A dual-language (Arabic and English) questionnaire was developed and validated to assess COVID-19 vaccination knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of the participants. The study questionnaire was developed and validated as an instrument. The questionnaire was distributed via Google Forms for a cross-sectional study, and all analyses were carried out using IBM SPSS. Results Six hundred thirty-five participants between 18 and 60 years responded to the questionnaire. The majority of respondents were female (64.3%) and middle-income (500-1000 JOD/month) (43.9%). Chronic illnesses were absent in 87.9% of participants. At least one COVID-19 immunization was given to 90.7% of them. COVID-19-infected people had more knowledge about the disease (B= 0.537; p =0.037). Greater COVID-19 vaccine knowledge was also linked with greater monthly income (B= 0.232; p =0.032) and postgraduate education (B= 0.405; p =0.014). Postgraduate education was also associated with higher positive views of COVID-19 immunization (B= 1.160; p =0.029). COVID-19-infected people were less likely to support vaccination (B= -0.758; p =0.024). Conclusion The study found that individuals understand and approve of the COVID-19 vaccine. They were rational and optimistic about the COVID-19 vaccine. Various characteristics that improve vaccination knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions were also explored. To ascertain long-term COVID-19 protection, vaccination attitudes and post-vaccination experiences of the people must be assessed as knowledge and attitudes change. This information may be useful for booster dose and immunization campaign messages. Conducting and reporting studies help policymakers to make informed decisions as knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions change during pandemics.