Predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and prevention practice in Greece

ABSTRACT

Achieving high COVID-19 vaccination rates globally is a key public health challenge. The study aims to investigate factors determining COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and adherence to prevention measures, in Greek adults. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Greece, from the 21st of February to the 3rd of April 2021, during the strict lockdown period of the 3rd COVID-19 wave. A total of 2029 adults (75.3% women, median age 38 years) participated in an online survey. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics, adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures and willingness to vaccinate. Health Literacy (HL), perceived stress, life satisfaction and adherence to Mediterranean Diet (MD) were also assessed. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were employed. The median score of COVID-19 adherence to the prevention measures tool was 23.08 (interquartile range: 3.83; range: 1 to 35). A total of 57.5% of the participants were willing to vaccinate, 12.1% were unwilling and 30.4% were undecided. Linear regression revealed that women, obese participants, those with a chronic disease and those willing to vaccinate reported higher adherence to prevention measures. Older age, higher levels of HL, life satisfaction and adherence to MD were also positively associated with higher adherence. Logistic regression revealed that being a woman decreases the odds of having the willingness to vaccinate, whereas older age, higher education and adherence to measures increase the odds of willingness to vaccinate. The results could be used by practitioners, researchers and policy makers working in the field of prevention and management of COVID -19.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19 vaccination
• prevention
• health literacy
• Greece

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to all the participants for their valuable contribution to the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data set associated with this paper is available upon request from the correspondent author of the paper.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Vassiliki Costarelli

Vassiliki Costarelli is an Associate Professor in Nutrition Behaviour and Health, in the Department of Economics and Sustainable Development, at Harokopio University, Athens, Greece. She is a dietician and a registered nutritionist (R. Nutr.). She is an active member of the Human Ecology Laboratory and her research interested are focusing on nutrition and dietary behaviour, diet and quality of life, health literacy, childhood obesity and cancer.

Maria Michou

Maria Michou holds a PhD in the Human Ecology Laboratory, Department of Economics and Sustainable Development, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece. She also has an MSc in Stress Management & Health Promotion. Her research interests are focusing on health and nutrition literacy their determinants, stress, public health promotion and health policy.