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Ahmed WS, Halboup AM, Alshargabi A, Al-Mohamadi A, Al-Ashbat YK, Al-Jamei S. Attitudes, motivators, and barriers toward influenza vaccination for children: a study from a conflict-ridden country. Confl Health 2024; 18:26. [PMID: 38566200 PMCID: PMC10988905 DOI: 10.1186/s13031-024-00590-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the increased recommendations for influenza vaccination, particularly among high-risk groups such as young children, Yemen lacks an influenza vaccination program, and the influenza vaccine is not included in the national immunization regime. This is exacerbated by the country's fragile infrastructure, as well as the devastating consequences of the ongoing conflict, which include child undernutrition and strained healthcare resources. Thus, the objective of the current study is to assess the public attitudes and perceptions toward vaccinating children against influenza in Yemen. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted by distributing a validated survey questionnaire to potential participants using convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize sociodemographic data, knowledge of influenza vaccines, and attitudes and perceptions regarding vaccinating children against influenza. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify associations between independent variables and the acceptance of vaccines for children. RESULTS A total of 853 eligible individuals, parents and non-parents, successfully completed the survey. The uptake of the influenza vaccine among the participants was notably low as the majority (69.2%) had not previously received the vaccine, although the majority expressed a willingness to get vaccinated in the future (59.4%). The majority (68.5%) were willing to vaccinate children. The largest percentage of the participants who expressed hesitancy toward children's vaccination cited multiple reasons to reject the vaccine (39.7%), with concerns regarding the safety of the vaccine being the predominant barrier to its acceptance for children (29.6%). On the other hand, motivating factors for vaccinating children included the validation of the vaccine's safety and efficacy, endorsement of the vaccine by the government and physicians, integration of the vaccine into the national immunization program, and the provision of the vaccine free of charge and through schools. Significant predictors for vaccine acceptance in children included male gender, knowledge of the protective effect of the influenza vaccine, previous receipt of the vaccine, and a willingness to receive the vaccine in the future. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights the need for educational health campaigns to raise awareness and remove misconceptions regarding influenza and the role, benefits, and availability of its vaccine. These findings can serve as a robust foundation for the future design and implementation of an influenza vaccination program for children in Yemen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesam S Ahmed
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abdulsalam M Halboup
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology, Sana'a, Yemen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Arwa Alshargabi
- Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Saba University, Sana'a, Yemen
| | - Ahmed Al-Mohamadi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology, Sana'a, Yemen
| | - Yousf K Al-Ashbat
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Razi University, Sana'a, Yemen
| | - Sayida Al-Jamei
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Razi University, Sana'a, Yemen.
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Ahmed WS, Abu Farha R, Halboup AM, Alshargabi A, Al-mohamadi A, Abu-rish EY, Zawiah M, Al-Ashbat YK, Al-Jamei S. Knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and practice toward seasonal influenza and its vaccine: A cross-sectional study from a country of conflict. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1030391. [PMID: 36860400 PMCID: PMC9970292 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1030391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The seasonal influenza vaccine is an important preventive measure against influenza and its associated complications. In Yemen, there is no seasonal influenza vaccination policy, and the influenza vaccine is excluded from the national immunization program. Data on vaccination coverage remain scarce with no previous surveillance programs or awareness campaigns implemented in the country. The current study aims to assess the awareness, knowledge, and attitudes of the public in Yemen toward seasonal influenza and their motivators and perceived barriers to receiving its vaccine. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire that was distributed to eligible participants using convenience sampling. Results A total of 1,396 participants completed the questionnaire. The respondents showed a median knowledge score of influenza of 11.0/15.0, and most of them (70%) were able to recognize its modes of transmission. However, only 11.3% of the participants reported receiving the seasonal influenza vaccine. Physicians were the respondents' most preferred information source for influenza (35.2%), and their recommendation (44.3%) was the most cited reason for taking its vaccine. On the contrary, not knowing about the vaccine's availability (50.1%), concerns regarding the safety of the vaccine (17%), and not considering influenza as a threat (15.9%) were the main reported barriers to getting vaccinated. Conclusion The current study showed a low uptake of influenza vaccines in Yemen. The physician's role in promoting influenza vaccination seems to be essential. Extensive and sustained awareness campaigns would likely increase the awareness of influenza and remove misconceptions and negative attitudes toward its vaccine. Equitable access to the vaccine can be promoted by providing it free of charge to the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesam S. Ahmed
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Rana Abu Farha
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Abdulsalam M. Halboup
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology, Sana'a, Yemen,Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
| | | | - Ahmed Al-mohamadi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology, Sana'a, Yemen
| | - Eman Y. Abu-rish
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Mohammed Zawiah
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia,Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Hodeidah University, Al Hodeidah, Yemen
| | - Yousf K. Al-Ashbat
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Razi University, Sana'a, Yemen
| | - Sayida Al-Jamei
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Razi University, Sana'a, Yemen,*Correspondence: Sayida Al-Jamei ✉
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Maita H, Kobayashi T, Akimoto T, Matsuoka F, Funakoshi S, Osawa H, Kato H. Clinical diagnosis of seasonal influenza by physicians: a retrospective observational study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e055910. [PMID: 35868823 PMCID: PMC9315920 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To elucidate the diagnostic accuracy of pretest probability of influenza (%) by physicians and the factors affecting the clinical diagnosis. DESIGN Retrospective, single-centre observational study. SETTING A community primary care clinic in Japan. PARTICIPANTS The participants were recruited from a database of studies conducted during the influenza season from December 2017 to April 2019. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE Sensitivity and specificity of the physician's clinical diagnosis of influenza recorded in the medical record as pretest probability. RESULTS A total of 335 patients (median age, 31 years; male, 66.6%) were analysed in this study. The area under the curve (AUC) of the physician's pretest probability was 0.77. At a cut-off value of 30%, the sensitivity and negative likelihood ratio were 92.0% (95% CI 86.7 to 95.7) and 0.19 (95% CI 0.11 to 0.33), respectively. At a cut-off value of 80%, the specificity and positive likelihood ratio were 90.8% (95% CI 85.4 to 94.6) and 4.01 (95% CI 2.41 to 6.66), respectively. The AUCs of patients who had and had not taken any medications before visiting the clinic were 0.77 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.85) and 0.78 (95% CI 0.71 to 0.84), respectively. The AUCs of patients with type A and B influenza were 0.78 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.84) and 0.76 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.82), respectively. The AUCs of vaccinated and unvaccinated patients were 0.80 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.88) and 0.76 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.89), respectively. The AUC for patients less than 12 hours after onset was 0.69 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.88), and that for patients aged younger than 6 years was 0.69 (95% CI 0.49 to 0.88). CONCLUSIONS The physician's pretest probability of influenza (%) may be useful for both definitive and exclusionary diagnoses within the limits of our study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Maita
- Development of Community Healthcare, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Tadashi Kobayashi
- Department of General Medicine, Hirosaki University School of Medicine and Hospital, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Takashi Akimoto
- Department of General Medicine, Hirosaki University School of Medicine and Hospital, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Fumihiko Matsuoka
- Rokkasho Center for Community and Family Medicine, Rokkasho, Aomori, Japan
| | - Shigeki Funakoshi
- Rokkasho Center for Community and Family Medicine, Rokkasho, Aomori, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Osawa
- Department of General Medicine, Hirosaki University School of Medicine and Hospital, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kato
- Development of Community Healthcare, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
- Department of General Medicine, Hirosaki University School of Medicine and Hospital, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
- General Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
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Ouchi D, García-Sangenís A, Moragas A, van der Velden AW, Verheij TJ, Butler CC, Bongard E, Coenen S, Cook J, Francis NA, Godycki-Cwirko M, Lundgren PT, Lionis C, Radzeviciene Jurgute R, Chlabicz S, De Sutter A, Bucher HC, Seifert B, Kovács B, de Paor M, Sundvall PD, Aabenhus R, Harbin NJ, Ieven G, Goossens H, Lindbæk M, Bjerrum L, Llor C. Clinical prediction of laboratory-confirmed influenza in adults with influenza-like illness in primary care. A randomized controlled trial secondary analysis in 15 European countries. Fam Pract 2022; 39:398-405. [PMID: 34611715 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmab122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical findings do not accurately predict laboratory diagnosis of influenza. Early identification of influenza is considered useful for proper management decisions in primary care. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the diagnostic value of the presence and the severity of symptoms for the diagnosis of laboratory-confirmed influenza infection among adults presenting with influenza-like illness (ILI) in primary care. METHODS Secondary analysis of patients with ILI who participated in a clinical trial from 2015 to 2018 in 15 European countries. Patients rated signs and symptoms as absent, minor, moderate, or major problem. A nasopharyngeal swab was taken for microbiological identification of influenza and other microorganisms. Models were generated considering (i) the presence of individual symptoms and (ii) the severity rating of symptoms. RESULTS A total of 2,639 patients aged 18 or older were included in the analysis. The mean age was 41.8 ± 14.7 years, and 1,099 were men (42.1%). Influenza was microbiologically confirmed in 1,337 patients (51.1%). The area under the curve (AUC) of the model for the presence of any of seven symptoms for detecting influenza was 0.66 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65-0.68), whereas the AUC of the symptom severity model, which included eight variables-cough, fever, muscle aches, sweating and/or chills, moderate to severe overall disease, age, abdominal pain, and sore throat-was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.69-0.72). CONCLUSION Clinical prediction of microbiologically confirmed influenza in adults with ILI is slightly more accurate when based on patient reported symptom severity than when based on the presence or absence of symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Ouchi
- University Institute in Primary Care Research Jordi Gol i Gurina, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain
| | - Ana García-Sangenís
- University Institute in Primary Care Research Jordi Gol i Gurina, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Moragas
- University Institute in Primary Care Research Jordi Gol i Gurina, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alike W van der Velden
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Theo J Verheij
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Christopher C Butler
- Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Emily Bongard
- Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Coenen
- Centre for General Practice, Department of Family Medicine & Population Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Johanna Cook
- Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nick A Francis
- Primary Care Research Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton,United Kingdom
| | - Maciek Godycki-Cwirko
- Centre for Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Pia Touboul Lundgren
- Département de Santé Publique, Université Côte d'Azur, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Nice, France
| | - Christos Lionis
- Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Crete, Greece
| | | | - Sławomir Chlabicz
- Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - An De Sutter
- Centre for Family Medicine UGent, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Heiner C Bucher
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Bohumil Seifert
- Department of General Practice, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Muireann de Paor
- HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, Department of General Practice, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Health Research Board Primary Care Clinical Trial Network Ireland, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Pär-Daniel Sundvall
- Research, Education, Development & Innovation Primary Health Care, Region Västra Götaland and Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Rune Aabenhus
- Section and Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nicolay Jonassen Harbin
- Antibiotic Centre for Primary Care, Department of General Practice, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Greet Ieven
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Antwerp, University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Herman Goossens
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Antwerp, University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Morten Lindbæk
- Antibiotic Centre for Primary Care, Department of General Practice, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars Bjerrum
- Section and Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carl Llor
- University Institute in Primary Care Research Jordi Gol i Gurina, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Public Health, General Practice, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Sawakami T, Karako K, Song P. Behavioral changes adopted to constrain COVID-19 in Japan: What are the implications for seasonal influenza prevention and control? Glob Health Med 2021; 3:125-128. [PMID: 34250286 DOI: 10.35772/ghm.2021.01066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Respiratory disease deaths associated with seasonal influenza are estimated to be 290,000 to 650,000 per year globally. In Japan, seasonal influenza affects more than 10 million people per year, and especially children, the elderly, and patients with underlying medical conditions, and seasonal influenza can cause severe illness. As SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread, the combined risk of concurrent influenza epidemics and the COVID-19 pandemic are a concern. When the status of influenza virus infections during the 2020-2021 flu season was compared to the 2011 to 2020 flu seasons, data indicated the absence of seasonal influenza outbreaks in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of flu patients was roughly estimated to be 14,000 nationwide from September 2020 to March 2021, which marks the first sharp decrease since national influenza surveillance started in 1987 in conjunction with National Epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Diseases (NESID). Moreover, approximately 500 sentinel sites (designated medical facilities) nationwide reported only 112 patients with severe influenza who required hospitalization. Since prevention and control measures amidst the COVID-19 pandemic have become the "new normal", one can reasonably assume that the absence of a seasonal influenza outbreak is related to prevention and control measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Basic infection prevention measures were thoroughly implemented, such as wearing masks, handwashing, and avoiding confined spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings. More importantly, the behavioral changes adopted to constrain COVID-19 during three declared states of emergency reduced population density and contact with people, including closing schools, asking restaurants to reduce their business hours, teleworking, curbing the flow of people during vacation week, etc. These behavioral changes will serve as a valuable reference to reduce the spread of seasonal influenza in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuo Sawakami
- Center for Clinical Sciences, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji Karako
- Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Peipei Song
- Center for Clinical Sciences, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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