Practices, attitudes, and factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination among Peruvian dental students vs. different health science fields: A cross-sectional study

Aim: To determine practices, attitudes, and factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination among students from different health science schools. Materials and Methods: This was an analytical, observational, and prospective study. This study evaluated students from different health science schools of the Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal, Lima, Peru, from March to July 2021. This was the period during which the national vaccination campaign began in Peru. Data collection was carried out using a validated, anonymous, and virtual questionnaire using Microsoft Forms. This measured the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and consisted of 23 questions that addressed the dimensions of practices and attitudes toward vaccination. Finally, a logistic regression model was used to determine the factors associated with vaccination practices and attitudes, with a significance level of P0.05. Results: Female subjects were more prevalent with 489 (75.5%) students, and the professional school of medicine had the most representatives, with 146 (22.5%) subjects. Most of the students belonged to cycle VIII, with 140 (21.6%). The statistical regression model showed that only sex was a factor associated with COVID-19 vaccination practices and attitudes, with odds ratio = 0.60; confidence interval = 0.42-0.93, and P =0.019. Conclusion: Undergraduate Peruvian students from all areas of health sciences showed significant practices and attitudes toward vaccination against COVID-19. However, of all the associated factors, sex was the only statistically significant factor.