Belief in Conspiracy Theories about COVID-19 Vaccines among Brazilians: A National Cross-Sectional Study
Emerson Lucas Silva Camargo,
Caíque Jordan Nunes Ribeiro,
Guilherme Reis de Santana Santos,
Valdemar Silva Almeida,
Herica Emilia Félix de Carvalho,
Guilherme Schneider,
Leticia Genova Vieira,
André Luiz Silva Alvim,
Fabiana Guerra Pimenta,
Liliane Moretti Carneiro,
Odinéa Maria Amorim Batista,
Anderson Reis de Sousa,
Álvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa,
Carla Aparecida Arena Ventura
Affiliations
Emerson Lucas Silva Camargo
Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo—USP, São Paulo 14040-902, Brazil
Caíque Jordan Nunes Ribeiro
Graduate Program in Nursing, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49107-230, Brazil
Guilherme Reis de Santana Santos
Department of Nursing, Federal University of Sergipe—UFS, Lagarto 49400-000, Brazil
Valdemar Silva Almeida
Department of Nursing, Federal University of Sergipe—UFS, Lagarto 49400-000, Brazil
Herica Emilia Félix de Carvalho
Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo—USP, São Paulo 14040-902, Brazil
Guilherme Schneider
Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo—USP, São Paulo 14040-902, Brazil
Leticia Genova Vieira
Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo—USP, São Paulo 14040-902, Brazil
André Luiz Silva Alvim
Postgraduate Program in Nursing, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora 36036-900, Brazil
Fabiana Guerra Pimenta
Graduate Program in Nursing, Centro Universitário UNA, Contagem 32000-000, Brazil
Liliane Moretti Carneiro
Postgraduate Program, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul—UFMS, Campo Grande 79070-900, Brazil
Odinéa Maria Amorim Batista
Department of Nursing, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina 64049-550, Brazil
Anderson Reis de Sousa
School of Nursing, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40231-300, Brazil
Álvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa
NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Center, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal
Carla Aparecida Arena Ventura
Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo—USP, São Paulo 14040-902, Brazil
Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a complex challenge that demands a comprehensive approach, one that not only acknowledges legitimate concerns within communities but also actively confronts misinformation. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of belief in conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines among Brazilians, seeking to understand the factors associated with this behavior. Method: Utilizing a national online survey conducted between May and August 2020, with a sample of 4247 participants, we conducted multivariate analysis to identify the independent determinants of this adherence, calculating adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) and their 95% confidence intervals. Results: It was revealed that 27.7% of participants believed in at least one conspiracy theory. Factors associated with a higher level of adherence included agreement with at least one piece of COVID-19 misinformation on social media (APR: 3.65; 95% CI: 3.07–4.34), lack of difficulty accessing leisure activities during the pandemic (APR: 3.11; 95% CI: 1.85–5.24), age 50 years or older (APR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.49–1.94), absence of difficulty accessing protective measures (APR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.26–1.72), use of face masks (APR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.33–1.97), non-use of at least one traditional media source for information (APR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.26–1.72), female gender (APR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.25–1.60), and age between 30 and 49 years (APR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.19–1.52). Conclusions: Our findings highlight that it is crucial to recognize that vaccine hesitancy is not merely an isolated phenomenon but often rooted in a complex interplay of social, cultural, psychological, and political factors. There is a need for multifaceted strategies to combat vaccine hesitancy, effectively address conspiracy theories, and consider the various factors associated with their prevalence.
