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Croatian Medical Journal, Vol. 63 No. 1, 2022.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2022.63.89

Determinants and reasons for coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine hesitancy in Croatia

Dragan Bagić orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-0371-838X ; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Adrijana Šuljok orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-1762-2191 ; Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Branko Ančić orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-1438-2647 ; Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

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Abstract

Aim To assess the determinants and reasons for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy in Croatia.
Methods The data were collected through a sociological
survey by using a mixed-mode approach (computer-assisted web interviewing and computer-assisted telephone
interview) on a national sample of 765 adults aged 18 or
above. Bivariate (χ2
test) and multivariate (binary logistic regression) statistical methods were used.
Results The rate of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was relatively high (35%), with unequal distribution across demographic groups. Binary logistic regression with demographic characteristics as predictors showed that women,
younger age groups (especially 25-34-year-olds), persons
residing in households with children, inhabitants of smaller settlements, and persons with lower levels of education
had higher odds of vaccine hesitancy. Trust in the five main
actors responding to the COVID-19 pandemic (the National Civil Protection Headquarters, Government, health care
system, scientists-researchers, and media) was also a significant predictor of vaccine hesitancy. Risk perception was
an even stronger predictor: persons who perceived SARSCoV-2 infection as a small risk were more than ten times
likelier to be vaccine hesitant than those who perceived it
as a great risk.
Conclusion Social groups that are more prone to vaccine
hesitancy need to be approached through different channels and messages by taking into account their trust in institutions and risk perception.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

279003

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/279003

Publication date:

17.2.2022.

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