Mpox Vaccination Willingness and its Socio-demographic and Psychological Determinants Among Doctors in Nigeria

Abstract

Socio-demographic and psychological variables are critical factors in the determination of willingness to vaccinateagainst infectious diseases. Behaviour towards previous vaccination exercise can also be an important predictor. This study was embarked upon to determine the impact of these variables in predicting willingness to vaccinate against Mpox among Nigerian doctors. Across-sectional online study with multi-item scale questionnaires were used to assess doctors working in both urban and rural communities in Cross River State Nigeria. Data were collected on doctors' socio-demographic and psychological characteristics such as Mpox fear indicators, risk perceptions, history of uptake of COVID-19 vaccination, and others. Participants' willingness was tested using logistic regression model. A total of 164 participants were recruited, 127 (77.4%) were younger than 43 years, 97 (59.1%) were males, and the highest sub specialty group was physicians (47.3%, n=70). Overall, 58.4%(n = 94)participants showed willingness to vaccinate against Mpox. Significant associations existed between willingness to vaccinate and general practitioner sub-specialty (OR: 3.82, 95%CI: 1.00-14.52, p =0.049);disagreeing that one could contract Mpox (OR: 0.290, 95%CI: 0.09-0.095, p = 0.041); disagreeing to the fact that Mpox can add new burden to the healthcare system of the affected countries(OR: 0.103, 95%CI: 0.015-0.068, p =0.018); and disagreeing that Mpox will be a likely occurrence during daily activities (OR: 0.118, 95%CI: 0.026-0.52, p = 0.005). No significant association existed between past history of vaccination and willingness to vaccinate against Mpox. The study revealed moderate rate of willingness among the participants to vaccinate against Mpox and that psychological variables of fear and risk perceptions play critical role in influencing willingness to vaccinate, hence proper risk communication and doctors' engagement is recommended to optimise Mpox control.