Author(s)

Chafika Ibrahim Zanguina¹, Theresa Stella Esperance Fouckou Moko², Jean Augustin Diegane Tine²

¹Department of Medicine, El Hadji Ibrahima Niasse University of Dakar, Dakar, Senegal.
²Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal.

Introduction: Almost a year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Senegal embarked on a vaccination campaign to protect its population. The objective of this study was to identify the factors influencing the COVID-19 vaccination practices within a health training university in Dakar. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study carried out from October 21 2021 to February 21 2022 among students at the Elhadj Ibrahima Niass private University in Dakar, Senegal. A 28-question online questionnaire was sent to all students enrolled at the university during this period. Results: Of the 576 students who responded, the average age was 22.60 years, with females predominating (57.81%). Medical students accounted for 66.14% of participants, pharmacy 22.40% and dental surgery 11.46%. Of these, 42.01% were bachelor’s students, 29.51% master’s students and 28.47% doctoral students. Vaccination coverage was 50.35%. Students who considered COVID-19 to be very dangerous were more likely to be vaccinated (OR = 5.05 [2.24-11.9]). Those with poor knowledge of vaccines were less likely to be vaccinated (OR = 0.07 [0.03-0.18]), as were those with poor knowledge of contraindications to vaccination (OR = 0.49 [0.28-0.86]). No association was found between vaccination status and socio-demographic or educational characteristics. Conclusion: In view of the importance of knowledge about COVID-19 vaccination, our results suggest that it is important to involve health students in the Ministry of Health’s awareness-raising strategies, because their support is necessary for better public awareness.

COVID-19, Vaccination, Health Students, Senegal

Zanguina, C. , Moko, T. and Tine, J. (2024) Study of Factors Associated with the Practice of Vaccination against COVID-19 among Medical Science Students in Dakar (Senegal). Open Journal of Epidemiology, 14, 199-220. doi: 10.4236/ojepi.2024.142014.