Local perception and socio cultural constraints towards COVID-19 vaccination: A Multi-sited ethnography

Abstract

The study aimed to explore the socio-cultural constraints and local perception towards COVID-19 vaccination and describes how socio-cultural factors influence the perceptions and behaviors of local people in the selected locales. Different myths and misconceptions, specific cultural beliefs, conspiracy theories, media, and religious perspectives made and molded the perceptions and attitudes of people for vaccinations. This research aimed at investigating the public perception in two different cities i.e., Islamabad and Narowal. Islamabad is a metropolitan city and Narowal is a semi urban area to get diverse perceptions of people depending on different backgrounds, socio-economic statuses, education levels and specific cultural beliefs. Socio-cultural constraints influence the perceptions and attitudes of people have also been explored which involves several myths and misconceptions. Twenty five respondents of different age, profession, gender, class and sects were selected as research sample. The sample was selected by using purposive sampling method. The research is multi-sited ethnography and employs qualitative research methods such as in depth-semi structured interviews, informal discussions, participant observations and key informants to collect data. The key findings demonstrate that varied perception of local people about vaccines exists in the research area. These varied perceptions influence the attitudes of people towards vaccinations accordingly. These perceptions were mainly dependent on the locales, economic statuses, education, cultural beliefs, and backgrounds of the people. The people of both locales have difference in their backgrounds that is why the researcher chose it deliberately. The respondents in a semi urban city and have a lower socio-economic status, their perception was more influenced by socio-cultural constraints due to lack of education and their cultural beliefs. Hesitancy has been observed among those respondents. As compared to the people in metropolitan city who have a higher socio-economic status, their perceptions are not influenced by socio-cultural constraints, but they are influenced by conspiracy theories on social media. Relatively less hesitancy has been observed among those people. But the respondent’s perceptions of both regions did not only dependent on their cultural settings and backgrounds and did not remain same throughout the episode of pandemic. They got influenced by several factors which were prevalent in the society. This study explained those factors in detail which gradually making and shaping up the perceptions of people towards COVID-19 7 vaccinations. The hesitancy among people and their reluctance towards vaccinations was becoming a reason of spread of the virus. As coronavirus is a lethal disease and affected many countries worldwide. In Pakistan, the public understanding, perception, and knowledge has influenced the mode of its transmission. Because many respondents were of the view that there is no existence of such virus, it is all propaganda from the west to kill Muslims. And a conspiracy of some elites who are ruling the world deliberately spread this virus to minimize the population of the world from 7.9 billion to 3 billion. And due to lack of trust on government too, some people were not following the precautionary measures and did not believe on its vaccinations. This behavior and perception of people has been greatly observed among respondents of both rural and urban research settings. Key words: Perception, Vaccination, Socio-cultural constraints, Cultural barriers, Socio-economic status, social media, Conspiracy Theories