Perspectives of midwifery and nursing students on recommending the COVID-۱۹ vaccine to women of reproductive age and factors influencing counseling competency: a cross-sectional study

Background: Vaccination rates among women of reproductive age are low, and many women are hesitant to get vaccinated. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the opinions of senior midwifery and nursing students regarding the recommendation of the COVID-۱۹ vaccine to women of reproductive age and to identify the factors that affect their counseling competency. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from ۵۰۴ senior midwifery and nursing students using the "Individual Identification Form," "Vaccine Opinion Form," and "Scale of Attitudes Toward the COVID-۱۹ Vaccine" in an online environment with the snowball sampling method. Various statistical methods, such as the t-test, chi-square analysis, correlation analysis, ANOVA, logistic regression, and decision tree analysis, were used to analyses the collected data. Results: Out of all the students, ۸۴.۳% were women, ۵۰.۲% belonged to the nursing department, and ۹۷.۶% had received at least two doses of the COVID-۱۹ vaccine. While ۴۴.۴% of the students said they would not recommend vaccination to pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to get pregnant women, ۲۲.۶% reported that they could suggest the COVID-۱۹ vaccine to all three groups. The students who believed they had the competency to counsel others about vaccines and had previously received a flu shot were more likely to recommend a COVID-۱۹ vaccine. On the other hand, the students who did not consider vaccines to be safe, believed they could be harmful, and had not received adequate training on vaccines were less likely to recommend them. Conclusions: Students who lacked knowledge about COVID-۱۹ vaccines and counseling competency were less likely to recommend vaccination.