Mistrust in government and COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in Nigeria: investigating the indirect roles of attitudes towards vaccination
Abstract Background Research shows that trust in government is associated with the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. However, there is no empirical evidence suggesting the pathway by which this association is formed. This study examines how dimensional attitudes towards vaccination explain the rel...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42506-023-00129-5 |
| _version_ | 1811165978916028416 |
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| author | Babatola Olawa Abiodun Lawal Ikenna Odoh Judith Azikiwe Ayodeji Olawole Emmanuel Odusina Israel Ayodele Olubukola Ajayi |
| author_facet | Babatola Olawa Abiodun Lawal Ikenna Odoh Judith Azikiwe Ayodeji Olawole Emmanuel Odusina Israel Ayodele Olubukola Ajayi |
| author_sort | Babatola Olawa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Research shows that trust in government is associated with the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. However, there is no empirical evidence suggesting the pathway by which this association is formed. This study examines how dimensional attitudes towards vaccination explain the relationship between mistrust in government and COVID-19 vaccination acceptance. Methods The study was an online cross-sectional survey involving 1026 adults (of which 58.9% are female) resident in Nigeria with a mean age of 26.09 (±8.46) years. Data were collected using structured questionnaires assessing the level of mistrust in government, dimensional attitudes towards vaccination, and acceptance to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data. Results Results show that 56.8% of participants mistrust the government, while COVID-19 vaccination acceptance rate was 28.2%. Mistrust in government was significantly associated with low acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. Furthermore, mistrust in the government was predictive of negative attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination which include worries about unforeseen future effects of vaccines, mistrust of vaccine benefits (MVB), concerns about commercial profiteering (CCP), and preference for natural immunity. The outcomes of indirect effect analyses indicated that mistrust in government was associated with high mistrust in vaccine benefits (MVB) and increased concerns about commercial profiteering (CCP), which in turn lead to low acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusions Mistrust in the government was high and was coupled with low vaccination acceptance. It is important to initiate culturally relevant awareness programs aiming at combating false notions about COVID-19 vaccination such as MVB and CCP arising from mistrust in government. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:44:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18b8eacc410a4e5c99e578d5d8bae330 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2090-262X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:44:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association |
| spelling | doaj.art-18b8eacc410a4e5c99e578d5d8bae3302023-02-12T12:07:56ZengSpringerOpenJournal of the Egyptian Public Health Association2090-262X2023-02-019811810.1186/s42506-023-00129-5Mistrust in government and COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in Nigeria: investigating the indirect roles of attitudes towards vaccinationBabatola Olawa0Abiodun Lawal1Ikenna Odoh2Judith Azikiwe3Ayodeji Olawole4Emmanuel Odusina5Israel Ayodele6Olubukola Ajayi7Department of Psychology, Federal University Oye-EkitiDepartment of Psychology, Federal University Oye-EkitiUniversity Medical Centre, Federal University Oye-EkitiDepartment of Psychology, Federal University Oye-EkitiDepartment of Guidance and Counselling, Federal University Oye-EkitiDepartment of Demography and Social Statistics, Federal University Oye-EkitiDepartment of Psychology, Federal University Oye-EkitiDepartment of Psychology and Behavioural Studies, Ekiti State UniversityAbstract Background Research shows that trust in government is associated with the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. However, there is no empirical evidence suggesting the pathway by which this association is formed. This study examines how dimensional attitudes towards vaccination explain the relationship between mistrust in government and COVID-19 vaccination acceptance. Methods The study was an online cross-sectional survey involving 1026 adults (of which 58.9% are female) resident in Nigeria with a mean age of 26.09 (±8.46) years. Data were collected using structured questionnaires assessing the level of mistrust in government, dimensional attitudes towards vaccination, and acceptance to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data. Results Results show that 56.8% of participants mistrust the government, while COVID-19 vaccination acceptance rate was 28.2%. Mistrust in government was significantly associated with low acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. Furthermore, mistrust in the government was predictive of negative attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination which include worries about unforeseen future effects of vaccines, mistrust of vaccine benefits (MVB), concerns about commercial profiteering (CCP), and preference for natural immunity. The outcomes of indirect effect analyses indicated that mistrust in government was associated with high mistrust in vaccine benefits (MVB) and increased concerns about commercial profiteering (CCP), which in turn lead to low acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusions Mistrust in the government was high and was coupled with low vaccination acceptance. It is important to initiate culturally relevant awareness programs aiming at combating false notions about COVID-19 vaccination such as MVB and CCP arising from mistrust in government.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42506-023-00129-5Trust in governmentMistrust of vaccine benefitsCommercial profiteeringCOVID-19 vaccination acceptance |
| spellingShingle | Babatola Olawa Abiodun Lawal Ikenna Odoh Judith Azikiwe Ayodeji Olawole Emmanuel Odusina Israel Ayodele Olubukola Ajayi Mistrust in government and COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in Nigeria: investigating the indirect roles of attitudes towards vaccination Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association Trust in government Mistrust of vaccine benefits Commercial profiteering COVID-19 vaccination acceptance |
| title | Mistrust in government and COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in Nigeria: investigating the indirect roles of attitudes towards vaccination |
| title_full | Mistrust in government and COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in Nigeria: investigating the indirect roles of attitudes towards vaccination |
| title_fullStr | Mistrust in government and COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in Nigeria: investigating the indirect roles of attitudes towards vaccination |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mistrust in government and COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in Nigeria: investigating the indirect roles of attitudes towards vaccination |
| title_short | Mistrust in government and COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in Nigeria: investigating the indirect roles of attitudes towards vaccination |
| title_sort | mistrust in government and covid 19 vaccination acceptance in nigeria investigating the indirect roles of attitudes towards vaccination |
| topic | Trust in government Mistrust of vaccine benefits Commercial profiteering COVID-19 vaccination acceptance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42506-023-00129-5 |
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