COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Malawians: a scoping review
Abstract Background The best chance of eradicating the COVID-19 pandemic lies in a successful vaccination campaign against the virus. There is still hesitancy among some of the Malawians over the use of COVID-19 vaccines that are readily available. This review’s objective was to currently analyze CO...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Systematic Reviews |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-024-02499-z |
| _version_ | 1827328440598003712 |
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| author | Ellen Nkambule Balwani Chingatichifwe Mbakaya |
| author_facet | Ellen Nkambule Balwani Chingatichifwe Mbakaya |
| author_sort | Ellen Nkambule |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The best chance of eradicating the COVID-19 pandemic lies in a successful vaccination campaign against the virus. There is still hesitancy among some of the Malawians over the use of COVID-19 vaccines that are readily available. This review’s objective was to currently analyze COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Malawians. Methods This scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for Scoping Reviews. An electronic database search was performed using CINAHL, OVID Medline, PubMed, and Google Scholar for studies published between January 1, 2020, and July 10, 2023, on the topic of reluctance toward COVID-19 vaccine in Malawi. A review of the journal titles and abstracts was performed to establish a match within the selection criteria. Based on the parameters of interest, this paper included publications that explicitly mentioned COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Malawi. Results A total of seven articles were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. Some of the eligible Malawian population’s poor response to COVID-19 vaccination was due to hesitancy. Misinformation is primarily to blame for COVID-19 vaccine reluctance. COVID-19 vaccines are viewed as dangerous or intended to cause harm such as the myth that the COVID-19 vaccine would cause infertility, severe disability, and even death. The review revealed that some people choose not to receive vaccines due to religious convictions and beliefs. Some individuals also think that getting the COVID-19 vaccine could result in receiving a triple-six (666) mark from the devil. There were also reports that the COVID-19 vaccination is being considered experimental and ineffective. Conclusions The Malawi government should focus on fear and misinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, using interventions, motivational interviews, and individual sensitization. Traditional, religious, and youth-led organizations should provide practical information on COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:17:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-52203f45ae7d4afd925a6bf20cbdfa30 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-4053 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:17:58Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Systematic Reviews |
| spelling | doaj.art-52203f45ae7d4afd925a6bf20cbdfa302024-03-05T17:50:16ZengBMCSystematic Reviews2046-40532024-02-011311810.1186/s13643-024-02499-zCOVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Malawians: a scoping reviewEllen Nkambule0Balwani Chingatichifwe Mbakaya1Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Mzuzu UniversityDepartment of Public Health, University of LivingstoniaAbstract Background The best chance of eradicating the COVID-19 pandemic lies in a successful vaccination campaign against the virus. There is still hesitancy among some of the Malawians over the use of COVID-19 vaccines that are readily available. This review’s objective was to currently analyze COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Malawians. Methods This scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for Scoping Reviews. An electronic database search was performed using CINAHL, OVID Medline, PubMed, and Google Scholar for studies published between January 1, 2020, and July 10, 2023, on the topic of reluctance toward COVID-19 vaccine in Malawi. A review of the journal titles and abstracts was performed to establish a match within the selection criteria. Based on the parameters of interest, this paper included publications that explicitly mentioned COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Malawi. Results A total of seven articles were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. Some of the eligible Malawian population’s poor response to COVID-19 vaccination was due to hesitancy. Misinformation is primarily to blame for COVID-19 vaccine reluctance. COVID-19 vaccines are viewed as dangerous or intended to cause harm such as the myth that the COVID-19 vaccine would cause infertility, severe disability, and even death. The review revealed that some people choose not to receive vaccines due to religious convictions and beliefs. Some individuals also think that getting the COVID-19 vaccine could result in receiving a triple-six (666) mark from the devil. There were also reports that the COVID-19 vaccination is being considered experimental and ineffective. Conclusions The Malawi government should focus on fear and misinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, using interventions, motivational interviews, and individual sensitization. Traditional, religious, and youth-led organizations should provide practical information on COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-024-02499-zCOVID-19COVID-19 vaccine hesitancyScoping reviewMalawi |
| spellingShingle | Ellen Nkambule Balwani Chingatichifwe Mbakaya COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Malawians: a scoping review Systematic Reviews COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy Scoping review Malawi |
| title | COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Malawians: a scoping review |
| title_full | COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Malawians: a scoping review |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Malawians: a scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Malawians: a scoping review |
| title_short | COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Malawians: a scoping review |
| title_sort | covid 19 vaccination hesitancy among malawians a scoping review |
| topic | COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy Scoping review Malawi |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-024-02499-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ellennkambule covid19vaccinationhesitancyamongmalawiansascopingreview AT balwanichingatichifwembakaya covid19vaccinationhesitancyamongmalawiansascopingreview |