How urban versus rural residency relates to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: A large-scale national Chinese study

Wu, Jian1,2; Shen, Zhanlei1,2; Li, Quanman1,2; Tarimo, Clifford Silver1,2,3; Wang, Meiyun4; Gu, Jianqin5; Wei, Wei4; Zhang, Xinyu6; Huang, Yanli7; Ma, Mingze1,2; Xu, Dongyang1,2; Ojangba, Theodora1,2; Miao, Yudong1,2,8

2023-03-01

10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115695

SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE   Impact Factor & Quartile

0277-9536

1873-5347

Rationale: Although urban-rural residency has been shown to influence individual COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, the differences between urban and rural China have yet to be uncovered.Objective: This study aims to assess the current prevalence and factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in urban and rural areas and explore whether the rural versus urban residency is associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.Methods: A national, cross-sectional, online survey among Chinese urban and rural adults (>= 18 years old) was conducted from 6th to August 9, 2021. A questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic factors, perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination status. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the factors that influence COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to explore the association between urban versus rural residency and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.Results: In total, 29,925 participants (80.56% urban participants) were recruited. Urban participants had a higher COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy than their rural counterparts (9.39% vs. 4.26%). After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among females was lower than that in males in both urban (aOR = 0.78, 95% CI [0.69-0.88]) and rural areas (aOR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.39-0.75]). The lack of trust towards vaccine producers was found to be associated with vaccine hesitancy among the urban participants (aOR = 2.76, 95% CI [2.22-3.43]). The rural floating population had a lower COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy than the rural permanent residents (aOR = 0.58, 95% CI [0.42-0.80]). PSM analysis revealed a 2.38% difference in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy between urban and rural participants.Conclusions: Urban participants were more hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine than rural participants. Priority should be placed on boosting confidence in the healthcare system to reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among urban residents. Furthermore, we advocate for extra incentives and vaccination education for rural permanent residents.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy Urban versus rural residency China Propensity score matching

SCI ; SSCI

English

Others

National Social Science Fund of China[21BGL222] ; Collaborative Innovation Key Project of Zhengzhou[20XTZX05015] ; 2021 Postgraduate Education Reform and Quality Improvement Project of Henan Province[20211207] ; null[YJS2021KC07] ; null[XKZDQY202007]

Public, Environmental & Occupational Health ; Biomedical Social Sciences

Public, Environmental & Occupational Health ; Social Sciences, Biomedical

WOS:000927837700001

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

SOCIAL SCIENCES, GENERAL

2-s2.0-85148773460

Web of Science

1.Zhengzhou Univ, Coll Publ Hlth, Dept Hlth Management, Zhengzhou, Henan, Peoples R China
2.Henan Prov Engn Res Ctr Hlth Econ & Hlth Technol A, Zhengzhou, Henan, Peoples R China
3.Dar Es salaam Inst Technol, Dept Sci & Lab Technol, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
4.Zhengzhou Univ, Henan Prov Peoples Hosp, Peoples Hosp, Zhengzhou, Henan, Peoples R China
5.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Med, Shenzhen, Guangdong, Peoples R China
6.Tianjin Med Univ, Sch Publ Hlth, Tianjin, Peoples R China
7.Wuhou Med Inst, Manage & Serv Ctr, Chengdu, Sichuan, Peoples R China
8.Zhengzhou Univ, Coll Publ Hlth, 100 Sci Ave, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, Peoples R China

Wu, Jian,Shen, Zhanlei,Li, Quanman,et al. How urban versus rural residency relates to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: A large-scale national Chinese study[J]. SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE,2023,320.

Wu, Jian.,Shen, Zhanlei.,Li, Quanman.,Tarimo, Clifford Silver.,Wang, Meiyun.,...&Miao, Yudong.(2023).How urban versus rural residency relates to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: A large-scale national Chinese study.SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE,320.

Wu, Jian,et al."How urban versus rural residency relates to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: A large-scale national Chinese study".SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE 320(2023).