Exposure to Misinformation, Risk Perception, and Confidence towards the Government as Factors Influencing Negative Attitudes towards COVID-19 Vaccination in Malaysia

Emma Mohamad; Jen Sern Tham; Siti Zaiton Mohd Ajis; Mohammad Rezal Hamzah; Suffian Hadi Ayub; Andi Muhammad Tri Sakti; Arina Anis Azlan

doi:10.3390/ijerph192214623

Exposure to Misinformation, Risk Perception, and Confidence towards the Government as Factors Influencing Negative Attitudes towards COVID-19 Vaccination in Malaysia

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Nov 8;19(22):14623. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192214623.

Authors

Emma Mohamad^{1

2}, Jen Sern Tham³, Siti Zaiton Mohd Ajis^{1

2}, Mohammad Rezal Hamzah⁴, Suffian Hadi Ayub⁵, Andi Muhammad Tri Sakti^{1

2

6}, Arina Anis Azlan^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Research in Media and Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia.
² UKM × UNICEF Communication for Development Centre in Health, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia.
³ Department of Communication, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan 43400, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁴ Department of Communication, Faculty of Business and Communication, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Kangar 01000, Perlis, Malaysia.
⁵ Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam 40450, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁶ Faculty of Communication Science, Mercu Buana University, Jakarta 11650, Indonesia.

Abstract

Introduction: This study explored exposure to misinformation, COVID-19 risk perception, and confidence towards the government as predictors of negative attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out from 30 June to 30 August 2021 involving 775 respondents. The survey instrument for the questionnaire was an adaptation from various different studies consisting of five main variables: (1) misinformation about vaccination; (2) risk perception toward COVID-19; (3) attitudes toward the vaccination programme; (4) intention to get vaccinated; and (5) public confidence in the government in executing the vaccination programme.

Results: The results of this study indicate that higher exposure to misinformation led to higher levels of negative attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine. When the perceived risk of COVID-19 infection was high, mistrust of vaccine benefits was low but there were also higher worries about the future effects of the vaccine. Confidence in the government was associated with lower negative attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine.

Conclusion: The results of this study may help develop an understanding of negative attitudes toward vaccinations in Malaysia and its contributing factors.

Keywords: COVID-19; cross sectional survey; government; perceived risk; vaccination.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Communication
Cross-Sectional Studies
Government
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Malaysia
Perception
Vaccination
Vaccines*

Substances

COVID-19 Vaccines
Vaccines

Grants and funding

This research was funded by a grant from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (grant code: DPK-2021-008) and in collaboration with UNICEF Malaysia (grant code: SK-2020-030). The funder had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.