Abouhala S, Hamidaddin A, Taye M, Glass DJ, Zanial N, Hammood F, Allouch F, Abuelezam NN. A National Survey Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Arab Americans.
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2022;
9:2188-2196. [PMID:
34625919 PMCID:
PMC8500465 DOI:
10.1007/s40615-021-01158-6]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Arab Americans' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic have been largely undocumented. Disparities in vaccine hesitancy between non-Hispanic Whites and minoritized groups have been observed, warranting exploration into the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Arab Americans.
METHODS
Data from the Survey of Arab Health in America (SAHA) (n = 638), collected between May 2020 and September 2020, were analyzed to determine predictors for vaccine intention among Arab Americans. Chi-squared tests and logistic regression models were performed to determine the relationship between sociodemographic, immigration, acculturation, and COVID-19 risk variables and vaccine intention.
RESULTS
More than half (56.7%) of respondents reported an intention to be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine, 35.7% reported uncertainty, and 7.5% reported being unlikely to receive a vaccine. Of those unlikely to receive the vaccine, 72.9% were women and 85.4% reported moderate to high religiosity (p < 0.01). Arab American women had higher odds of being uncertain of their vaccine intention (OR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.10, 2.57) or being unlikely to receive the vaccine (OR = 5.00; 95% CI: 1.95, 12.83) than men in this sample.
DISCUSSION
Factors such as high religiosity and gender were positively associated with being unlikely to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Future studies should qualitatively assess the beliefs that undergird vaccine intention among Arab Americans.
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