@article{ajphr20261445,
author={{Sarmin, Shahara and Saad, Enamul Islam and Das, Laxmi Rani},
title={Vaccine Hesitancy: Socio-Demographic and Perceptual Differences between Urban and Rural Individuals in Bangladesh},
journal={American Journal of Public Health Research},
volume={14},
number={4},
pages={113--117},
year={2026},
url={https://pubs.sciepub.com/ajphr/14/4/5},
issn={2327-6703},
abstract={Understanding the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is critical for public health strategy. This study aimed to compare the socio-demographic and perceptual factors influencing vaccine hesitancy between urban and rural populations in Bangladesh. <b>Methods:</b><b> </b>A comparative study was conducted at Ashiyan Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January to December 2021. A purposive sample of 58 individuals (16 urban, 42 rural) was recruited. Data on socio-demographics, vaccination status, trusted information sources, and perceptions were collected. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0, employing descriptive statistics, chi-square, and t-tests. <b>Results:</b><b> </b>Analysis revealed high overall vaccination uptake (Urban: 100%, Rural: 88.1%, p=0.184) but a significant rural-urban disparity in booster dose coverage (81.3% vs 33.3%, p=0.001). Rural residents had lower education and income (p&lt;0.05). Trusted information sources differed markedly: urban respondents relied on government (81.3%), while rural respondents used community leaders (35.7%) and social media (33.3%) (p&lt;0.001). All unvaccinated individuals (n=5) were rural, citing fear or disbelief. <b>Conclusion:</b><b> </b>Significant rural-urban disparities in booster coverage persist in Bangladesh, driven by socioeconomic factors and reliance on informal information sources. Targeted, community-led interventions are essential to build vaccine confidence and improve uptake in rural populations.},
doi={10.12691/ajphr-14-4-5}
publisher={Science and Education Publishing}
}