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Discrepancies and Similarities in Attitudes, Beliefs, and Familiarity with Vaccination Between Religious Studies and Science Students in Malaysia: A Comparison Study

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Abstract

Little is known about the impact of religion on vaccine receptivity in Malaysia. Improved vaccine uptake is positively reflected in the reduction of vaccine-preventable diseases. This study aimed to explore and compare the attitudes, religious beliefs, and familiarity regarding vaccination between the religious studies and science students. A survey-based cross-sectional study was conducted between a convenient sample of students (N = 300) of religious studies and applied sciences in Kuantan, Malaysia. A new, face- and content-validated questionnaire was used for data collection. A total of 206 students responded to the questionnaire, giving a response rate of 86.6%. Overall, participants demonstrated positive attitudes towards vaccination (n = 185, 89.9%). Only a minority of respondents expressed an opposition to vaccination (n = 21, 10.2%). Religious factors (permissibility) of vaccines (n = 12, 57.1%) and harm associated with the vaccine (n = 13, 61.9%) were the most common reasons for not supporting vaccination among the non-supporters. Most (n = 135, 65.5%) respondents agreed that vaccination is parallel with the Islamic concept of protecting life and preventing harm. Almost half of the respondents (n = 98, 47.6%) admit to declaring "Fatwa" to oblige parents to vaccinate their children. Religious beliefs and safety issues surrounding immunisation were reported as the major barriers for the support of immunisation. Well-designed programs are recommended to reshape the religious beliefs and convictions among students toward vaccination.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to those religious and science students who had participated in the current study. We would like to express our gratitude to the Jabatan Agama Islam Pahang (JAIP), Faculty of Science-IIUM, and Dean Faculty of Pharmacy—(IIUM) for permission to conduct this study. The authors acknowledge and thank, Mr. Lebai Idris Ali and late Mr. Hany Mustafa (Kulliah Al-Lughah Waddin As-Sultan Abu Bakar Pekan-Malaysia).

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapeutics, Dubai Pharmacy College for Girls, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Ramadan Mohamed Elkalmi

  2. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), 22200, Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia

    Shazia Qassim Jamshed

  3. Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Selangor, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300, Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

    Azyyati Mohd Suhaimi

  4. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sebha, Sebha, Libya

    Ramadan Mohamed Elkalmi

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  1. Ramadan Mohamed Elkalmi
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  2. Shazia Qassim Jamshed
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Correspondence to Ramadan Mohamed Elkalmi.

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Elkalmi, R.M., Jamshed, S.Q. & Suhaimi, A.M. Discrepancies and Similarities in Attitudes, Beliefs, and Familiarity with Vaccination Between Religious Studies and Science Students in Malaysia: A Comparison Study. J Relig Health 60, 2411–2427 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01212-x

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