PLoS ONE (Jan 2023)

Trustworthiness of information sources on vaccines for COVID-19 prevention among Brazilians.

  • Adriana Teixeira Reis,
  • Karla Gonçalves Camacho,
  • Maria de Fátima Junqueira-Marinho,
  • Saint Clair Dos Santos Gomes Junior,
  • Dimitri Marques Abramov,
  • Livia Almeida de Menezes,
  • Marcio Fernandes Nehab,
  • Carlos Eduardo da Silva Figueiredo,
  • Maria Elisabeth Lopes Moreira,
  • Zilton Farias Meira de Vasconcelos,
  • Flavia Amendola Anisio de Carvalho,
  • Livia de Rezende de Mello,
  • Roberta Fernandes Correia,
  • Zina Maria Almeida de Azevedo,
  • Margarida Dos Santos Salú,
  • Daniella Campelo Batalha Cox Moore

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279393
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 1
p. e0279393

Abstract

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ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the trustworthiness of information sources, perception of clear information about the vaccine, and strategies to increase adherence to vaccination to provide managers with information that helps establish effective communication with the population about vaccination.MethodThis is an online survey conducted between January 22 and 29, 2021, preceded by an Informed Consent, that aims to assess vaccine hesitancy, which corresponded to the first week of vaccination initiation to prevent COVID-19 in Brazil. Data were obtained from a questionnaire made available through a free platform and stored in Google Forms and later exported to the SPSS statistical package for analysis. The sample consisted of all questionnaires from participants who self-declared as age 18 or older, Brazilian, and residing in Brazil at the time of the survey. Incomplete records with more than 50% of blank items and duplicates were excluded. All categorical variables were analyzed from their absolute and relative frequencies. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to verify the relationship between dependent variables and independent variables.ResultsThe results show that trust in information sources diverges between hesitant and non-hesitant. They also showed that some participants show an overall distrust that seems to have deeper foundations than issues related only to the source of information. The high rejection of television and the WHO as sources of information among hesitant suggests that integrated actions with research institutes, public figures vaccinating, and religious leaders can help to combat vaccine hesitation. Two actors become particularly important in this dynamic, both for good and bad, and their anti-vaxxer behavior must be observed: the doctor and the Ministry of Health.ConclusionThis study contributes to gathering valuable information to help understand the behavior and thinking relevant to the adherence to vaccination recommendations.