Assessing the COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: Validation of the Moroccan Version of the C19-VHS Questionnaire and Analysis of Sociodemographic Factors

Authors

  • Sara EL FELLAQ Laboratory of Biology and Health, Faculty of Science, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco.
  • Badreddine DAHOU Laboratory of Biology and Health, Faculty of Science, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco.
  • Sara SENNANI Laboratory of Biology and Health, Faculty of Science, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco.
  • Mustapha LAHROUZ Professor, National School of Agriculture of Meknes, Morocco.
  • Amina Bouziani Innovation and Research Laboratory for Improving Teaching and Training Professions, Morocco.
  • Chahboune Mohammed Laboratory of Biology and Health, Faculty of Science, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v24i3.82945

Keywords:

Vaccine Hesitancy; COVID-19 Vaccine; C19-VHS, Coronavirus; Vaccine Acceptance; Morocco

Abstract

Background Vaccine hesitancy has been a major obstacle in the fight against COVID-19. Objective: This study aims to explore the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among a sample of 800 Moroccan participants aged 18 and older. Methodology The COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (C19-VHS), translated and validated in Arabic, was used to measure various aspects of this hesitancy. The translation methodology included a two-step translation process, followed by back-translation and cultural validation. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed a unidimensional structure explaining 63.98% of the variance, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.903, indicating excellent internal consistency. Results The results show that vaccine hesitancy is influenced by several sociodemographic factors. A negative correlation with age suggests that older individuals are less hesitant. In contrast, education level and health status are positively correlated with hesitancy. A majority of participants expressed moderate to strong vaccine hesitancy, while only 2% fully accepted vaccines. Conclusion These findings highlight the need for targeted awareness strategies to improve perceptions of vaccine efficacy and safety. Specific interventions are essential to strengthen trust in vaccines and increase vaccine uptake among the Moroccan population.

BJMS, Vol. 24 No. 03 July’25 Page : 873-880

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Published

2025-07-25

How to Cite

FELLAQ , S. E., DAHOU, B., SENNANI, S., LAHROUZ, M., Bouziani, A., & Mohammed, C. (2025). Assessing the COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: Validation of the Moroccan Version of the C19-VHS Questionnaire and Analysis of Sociodemographic Factors. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science, 24(3), 873–880. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v24i3.82945

Issue

Vol. 24 No. 3 (2025)

Section

Original Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Sara EL FELLAQ , Badreddine DAHOU, Sara SENNANI, Mustapha LAHROUZ, Amina Bouziani, Chahboune Mohammed

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