Background Vaccines are effective and reliable public health interventions against viral outbreaks and pandemics. However, hesitancy regarding the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine is evident worldwide. Therefore, understanding vaccination-related behavior is critical in expanding the vaccine coverage to flatten the infection curve. This study explores the public perception regarding COVID-19 vaccination and identifies factors associated with vaccine hesitancy among the general adult populations in six Southeast Asian countries. Methods Using a snowball sampling approach, we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study among 5260 participants in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam between February and May 2021. Binary logistic regression analysis with a backward conditional approach was applied to identify factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Results Of the total, 50.6% were female, and the median age was 30 years (range: 15–83 years). The majority of the participants believed that vaccination effectively prevents and controls COVID-19 (81.2%), and 84.0% would accept COVID-19 vaccines when they become available. They agreed that health providers’ advice (83.0%), vaccination convenience (75.6%), and vaccine costs (62.8%) are essential for people to decide whether to accept COVID-19 vaccines. About half (49.3%) expressed their hesitancy to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. After adjustment for other covariates, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was significantly associated with age, residential area, education levels, employment status, and family economic status. Participants from Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam were significantly more likely to express hesitancy in receiving COVID-19 vaccines than those from Philippines. Conclusions In general, participants in this multi-country study showed their optimistic perception of COVID-19 vaccines’ effectiveness and willingness to receive them. However, about half of them still expressed their hesitancy in getting vaccinated. The hesitation was associated with several socioeconomic factors and varied by country. Therefore, COVID-19 vaccination programs should consider these factors essential for increasing vaccine uptake in the populations.

Background Mass vaccination campaigns have significantly reduced the COVID-19 burden. However, vaccine hesitancy has posed significant global concerns. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics that influence perceptions of COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, acceptability, hesitancy and decision making to take vaccine among general adult populations in a variety of socioeconomic and cultural contexts. Methods Using a snowball sampling approach, we conducted an online cross-sectional study in 20 countries across four continents from February to May 2021. Results A total of 10,477 participants were included in the analyses with a mean age of 36±14.3 years. The findings revealed the prevalence of perceptions towards COVID-19 vaccine’s effectiveness (78.8%), acceptance (81.8%), hesitancy (47.2%), and drivers of vaccination decision-making (convenience [73.3%], health providers’ advice [81.8%], and costs [57.0%]). The county-wise distribution included effectiveness (67.8–95.9%; 67.8% in Egypt to 95.9% in Malaysia), acceptance (64.7–96.0%; 64.7% in Australia to 96.0% in Malaysia), hesitancy (31.5–86.0%; 31.5% in Egypt to 86.0% in Vietnam), convenience (49.7–95.7%; 49.7% in Austria to 95.7% in Malaysia), advice (66.1–97.3%; 66.1% in Austria to 97.3% in Malaysia), and costs (16.0–91.3%; 16.0% in Vietnam to 91.3% in Malaysia). In multivariable regression analysis, several socio-demographic characteristics were identified as associated factors of outcome variables including, i) vaccine effectiveness: younger age, male, urban residence, higher education, and higher income; ii) acceptance: younger age, male, urban residence, higher education, married, and higher income; and iii) hesitancy: male, higher education, employed, unmarried, and lower income. Likewise, the factors associated with vaccination decision-making including i) convenience: younger age, urban residence, higher education, married, and lower income; ii) advice: younger age, urban residence, higher education, unemployed/student, married, and medium income; and iii) costs: younger age, higher education, unemployed/student, and lower income. Conclusions Most participants believed that vaccination would effectively control and prevent COVID-19, and they would take vaccinations upon availability. Determinant factors found in this study are critical and should be considered as essential elements in developing COVID-19 vaccination campaigns to boost vaccination uptake in the populations.

The COVID-19 pandemics caused an unprecedented mortality, distress, and globally poses a challenge to mental resilience. To our knowledge, this is the first study that aimed to investigate the psychological distress among the adult general population across 13 countries. This cross-sectional study was conducted through online survey by recruiting 7091 respondents. Psychological distress was evaluated with COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI). The crude prevalence of psychological distress due to COVID-19 is highest in Vietnam, followed by Egypt, and Bangladesh. Through Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis, the respondents from Vietnam holds the highest level of distress, while the respondents from Sri Lanka holds the lowest level of distress with reference to Nepal.Female respondents had higher odds of having reported psychological distress, and those with tertiary education were less likely to report psychological distress compared to those with lower level of education. The findings indicate that psychological distress is varies across different countries. Therefore, different countries should continue the surveillance on psychological consequences through the COVID-19 pandemic to monitor the burden and to prepare for the targeted mental health support interventions according to the need. The coping strategies and social support should be provided especially to the lower educational attainment group.

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a public health emergency. The speed at which COVID-19 become pandemic and spread all over the world is alarming. A critical aspect of this type of pandemic is on the mental health of the community. This survey aimed to describe psychological distress in Indonesia's general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection began on 1st April 2020 to 30th April 2020. An online survey using Google Form with snowball sampling method used in this study. A modified version of the COVID-19 peri-traumatic distress index (CPDI) with 24 items used. The survey questionnaire included socio-economic and demographic variables. The study's total responses were 1,287, with 33 excluded from the analysis because of incomplete responses or not meeting inclusion criteria. Results showed that 63.5% of respondents reported having normal or no distress, 34% were having mild to moderate levels of distress, and 2.8% having severe distress. Age is the only variable that correlates with the level of distress. Healthcare workers and the general population showed no significant differences in the level of distress. During the early break of the COVID-19 pandemic, around 40% of respondents rated their psychological state having moderate to severe distress. These findings can be used to develop better psychological intervention measures and prevention of mental health during the pandemic.

Swamedikasi merupakan upaya individu untuk mengobati penyakit atau gejala yang dikenali sendiri. Swamedikasi dapat menjadi permasalahan kesehatan akibat keterbatasan pengetahuan mengenai obat sehingga akan memengaruhi perilaku seseorang. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mendeskripsikan pengetahuan dan perilaku swamedikasi oleh ibu-ibu di Kelurahan Tamansari Kota Bandung. Rancangan penelitian observasional deskriptif dengan metode cross sectional. Jumlah sampel 50 orang dengan teknik consecutive sampling. Pengambilan data melalui kuesioner. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan pengetahuan responden tentang definisi swamedikasi (54%), penggolongan obat berdasar atas logo (64%), makna logo obat dibeli tanpa resep dokter (46%), makna logo obat bebas terbatas (52%), definisi aturan pakai obat 3x sehari (56%), interval waktu penggunaan obat (68%), perbedaan dosis obat dewasa dengan anak (88%), definisi efek samping obat (80%), menanggulangi efek samping (98%), definisi kontraindikasi obat (86%), definisi interaksi obat (62%), dan penyimpanan obat (86%). Prevalensi perilaku swamedikasi pada responden (60%), obat modern lebih mendominasi (64%), pemilihan obat modern untuk swamedikasi didasarkan atas keinginan sendiri (38%), warung kelontong sebagai tempat mendapatkan obat (48%), informasi swamedikasi diperoleh melalui media elektronik dan media cetak (36%), kebiasaan membaca kandungan obat (64%) dan tanggal kadaluarsa obat (86%), serta menyimpan obat di rak obat (50%). Simpulan penelitian ini, pengetahuan swamedikasi pada masyarakat secara umun cukup baik. Terdapat upaya untuk mengatasi masalah kesehatan dengan melakukan swamedikasi.