Although it has been shown in numerous studies that immunization of the population by vaccination is the most effective way to protect against smallpox or other polioviruses, the anti-vaccination public rhetoric recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to influence the populations acceptance of vaccination against newly emerging viruses. This fact influenced our decision to study the vaccination of the Romanian population against the virus that causes monkeypox, aiming to identify the degree of compliance regarding the decision related to vaccination acceptance/non-acceptance/hesitation, based on the survey of a representative sample of respondents. The study is based on an online questionnaire completed between 1 July and 31 July 2022 by 820 individuals, aged 18 years or above, with a permanent residency in Romania. The study was undertaken in order to observe the attitudes of the respondents regarding the acceptance, refusal, or hesitation of vaccination against monkeypox. The sociological data resulting from the application of the questionnaire on 820 people highlighted that 97.16% were vaccinated with the vaccines of the national mandatory scheme and 53.32% were vaccinated with the optional vaccines (rotavirus vaccine, anti-hepatitis A, meningococcal vaccine, etc.). Although 47.13% of respondents considered monkeypox to be a real problem facing humanity today, only 26.37% of those surveyed expressed their fear of becoming infected, and 29.30% were willing to immunize themselves against the virus by vaccination. Only 19.59% of respondents believed that the monkeypox disease will generate a new global pandemic, while 31.86% considered pandemics to be a human security issue, and 30.28% expressed their desire to accept a reduction in some rights and freedoms, in the short term, for the adoption of institutional measures to combat a possible pandemic caused by monkeypox. The study clearly highlights the fact that monkeypox is perceived as a threat to the health of the population, with relatively low acceptance of conspiracy theories regarding its origins/manifestation/consequences among respondents (between 21.7% and 28.9%). The vaccination of the population against monkeypox is strongly influenced by the validity of the results obtained over time, in the vaccination campaigns against the smallpox virus (vaccine found in the mandatory vaccination scheme in Romania until 1979). We believe that the negative public rhetoric regarding the COVID-19 vaccination is likely to negatively influence monkeypox vaccination. Although specialized studies and practical results showed that the immunization of the population through vaccination represents an important vector in the prevention/management of pandemic-type issues, we believe that a national pro-vaccination campaign, based on scientific evidence, can lead the population to accept vaccination when the epidemiological context requires it. We also believe that a culture of health security needs to be developed among citizens to raise awareness of the role of vaccines as an important vector in the field of population health.
PurposeThe study aims to highlight the behavior of people in a state in the vicinity of a military conflict zone. Specifically, it highlights the psychological behavior of Romanian citizens after the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. It was considered appropriate to carry out this study, given the novelty of such a situation, since, after the end of the Second World War, Europe has no longer faced major problems of insecurity caused by armed conflicts of this magnitude.MethodsThe study was based on the questionnaire applied to a number of 1,193 people with permanent residence in Romania and a minimum age of 18 years. The data were collected in the beginning phase of the invasion of Ukraine by the troops of the Russian Federation, i.e. between March 1–17, 2022. The aim was to obtain information that would allow the observation of re-spondents' opinions on the conflict in Ukraine and its potential escalation, and on the other hand, to allow the assessment of quality of life, using the WHQOL-BREEF measurement instrument.ResultsBased on the results of the study, the highest average satisfaction among the four domains of WHOQOL-BREF is represented by the “Psychological” domain, of the category of people with the lowest fear about a potential future war between Romania and the Russian Federation (83.62 ± 17.48). On the contrary, the lowest average is represented by the “Environment” domain, for the category of persons who do not feel protected by the fact that Romania is a NATO member state (61.77 ± 20.96).ConclusionsThe results of the study show that the indices of the quality of life of the people in Romania, as a state in the proximity of a military conflict with the potential to escalate, are negatively influenced by the fears of people who believe that the war in Ukraine will escalate into a regional or global conflict, or that the Russian Federation is going to use its nuclear arsenal against Ukraine or another NATO member state.
Purpose: Once vaccination against COVID-19 was also possible for children over 12 years of age, parents/legal guardians had to give their consent for their vaccination. It is a crucial moment, given the large number of infected people in Romania and the fact that these children are a source of transmission of the virus in the community. The refusal or hesitation of the parents/legal guardians, regarding the agreement for the vaccination of the children, determined us to focus on this subject, wishing, based on the questioning of as many parents as possible, to extract the reasons underlying these decisions. Methods: This study is designed to observe the attitudes of parents/legal guardians regarding the refusal, hesitation, or acceptance of vaccination of children. The persons targeted to answer the questionnaire had to meet three conditions: to be at least 21 years old, to have a stable residence in Romania, and to be parents/legal guardians of at least one child under 18 years of age. The questionnaire was applied online to a number of 581 parents/legal guardians, being structured to obtain socio-demographic data and other categories of data that allow us to analyze their views on vaccinating children. Results: Sociological data resulting from the application of the questionnaire on 581 parents/legal guardians show that 183 (31.5%) adults and 140 (24.1%) children got infected with COVID-19. The total number of respondents shows that only 411 (70.7%) adults and 185 (31.8%) children are vaccinated. Conclusions: From the analysis of the data obtained through the questionnaire, following the application of the Kendall and Spearman statistical analysis tests, it is found that there is a strong link between participants’ trust/distrust in “fake news” information and their decision to vaccinate their children.
Purpose: The highlighting of how current security issues (the economic crisis at the European/global level and the military crisis in Ukraine)—seen as factors of negative influence on sustainable development at the societal level—influence the level of willingness of young citizens (aged 18–35) in Romania, regarding the acceptance of restrictions/limitations on certain fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as the fulfillment of certain constitutional obligations in exceptional situations. It was considered opportune to conduct this study, given the fact that since the end of World War II, the European continent has not experienced such major security issues that combine specific aspects of military security with those specific to human security, and that generate negative effects on the community’s efforts to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. Methods: The study was based on an online questionnaire administered to a total of 826 individuals permanently residing in Romania, aged between 18 and 35. The data were collected from 1 October to 15 October 2022, at a reasonable interval following the onset of the mentioned crises, assuming that the opinions of the interviewed individuals regarding their negative impact on sustainable development from the perspective of internal societal life are well-formed. The methods used include statistical analysis and focused on identifying and assessing the degree of acceptability of restrictions/limitations on certain fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as the willingness to fulfill certain constitutional obligations. Additionally, empirical research on the issue was conducted in accordance with the available bibliography. Results: The study reveals the respondents’ level of perception regarding the impact on sustainable development of society, from an economic perspective, social well-being (41.33%), and citizen safety (53.26%), as a result of the global/European economic crisis. The consequences of this are strongly felt among the interviewed population (61.09%), leading to a decrease in their trust in the state authorities’ ability to manage the situation. The cause of the global/European economic crisis is complex, a large part of the respondents (41.21%) believing that it is the result of a globally orchestrated conspiracy to reset the international order and reconfigure the poles of power, and more than 50% of the respondents considering the conflict in Ukraine as the main source. A percentage of 29.28% of the respondents consider that social solidarity at the level of the European Union (EU) is feasible to overcome the negative influences of multiple crises on domestic societal life, and 49.51% of the respondents believe that Romania’s EU membership is likely to contribute substantially to limiting the negative effects of the crisis in Ukraine. The restriction/limitation of certain fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, as possible extreme measures for managing the effects of the mentioned crises at the national level, is accepted by a small percentage of respondents (15–20%), while the willingness to fulfill certain constitutional obligations of citizens is present in approximately one-third of the interviewed population. Conclusions: In the context of the new global/European economic crisis and the military crisis in Ukraine, which impact the sustainable development of society and the community’s efforts to promote peaceful societies, young citizens in Romania (aged 18–35) are deeply concerned about the preservation of fundamental rights and freedoms as stipulated in the Constitution of Romania. They demonstrate a low level of acceptance for the restriction/limitation of these rights and freedoms, even in exceptional situations of an economic or military nature. The same low degree of readiness is also found in the fulfillment of some fundamental constitutional duties of the citizens (loyalty to the country, defense of the country, etc.), in the case of adopting exceptional measures in the event of extending the military conflict in Ukraine.
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