COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A survey of unvaccinated adults
Background: Concerns and misconceptions surrounding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines may account for vaccine hesitancy and low uptake. Aim: To determine prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, vaccine-related misconceptions, and predictors of vaccine hesitancy among South Africans. S...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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AOSIS
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/2468 |
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| author | Tanuja N. Gengiah Donavan C. Naidoo Nomcebo Maduma Saien Govender Sherishka Dhindayal Lara Lewis |
| author_facet | Tanuja N. Gengiah Donavan C. Naidoo Nomcebo Maduma Saien Govender Sherishka Dhindayal Lara Lewis |
| author_sort | Tanuja N. Gengiah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Concerns and misconceptions surrounding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines may account for vaccine hesitancy and low uptake.
Aim: To determine prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, vaccine-related misconceptions, and predictors of vaccine hesitancy among South Africans.
Setting: Community setting in five districts in KwaZulu- Natal province.
Methods: Between August 20, 2021, and September 27, 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional survey, interviewing 300 unvaccinated adults amid the national vaccination campaign. Predictors of hesitancy were identified through multivariable logistic regression analysis.
Results: Participants had a median age of 29 years (IQR: 23–39), 86.7% were Black African, 63.2% were male, 53.3% resided in rural communities, and 59.3% (95% CI: 53.8% – 64.9%) were classified as vaccine hesitant. The primary reason for not vaccinating was a lack of trust in the vaccine (62.1%). Factors associated with reduced vaccine hesitancy included age (participants aged 35–49 years: OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.18–0.64, p = 0.003; participants over 50 years: OR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.07–0.47, p = 0.0004), previous COVID-19 infection (OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.11–0.87, p = 0.03), and receiving vaccine information from healthcare workers (OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.10–1.0, p = 0.05). Unemployed (OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.1–4.2, p = 0.03) and self-employed individuals (OR: 2.98, 95% CI: 1.27–7.02, p = 0.01) were more likely to be vaccine hesitant.
Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy rates are high in KwaZulu-Natal. Uptake could be enhanced by healthcare workers leading information campaigns with messages targeting younger individuals, the unemployed, and the self-employed.
Contribution: This survey provides evidence to improve COVID-19 vaccination uptake in South Africa. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:49:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5906b53e31634115a3559adcdabc8086 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1025-9848 2071-9736 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:49:15Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-5906b53e31634115a3559adcdabc80862024-02-01T12:37:47ZafrAOSISHealth SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences1025-98482071-97362024-02-01290e1e810.4102/hsag.v29i0.24681084COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A survey of unvaccinated adultsTanuja N. Gengiah0Donavan C. Naidoo1Nomcebo Maduma2Saien Govender3Sherishka Dhindayal4Lara Lewis5Center for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa; and Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanDiscipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanDiscipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanCenter for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), DurbanCenter for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), DurbanCenter for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), DurbanBackground: Concerns and misconceptions surrounding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines may account for vaccine hesitancy and low uptake. Aim: To determine prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, vaccine-related misconceptions, and predictors of vaccine hesitancy among South Africans. Setting: Community setting in five districts in KwaZulu- Natal province. Methods: Between August 20, 2021, and September 27, 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional survey, interviewing 300 unvaccinated adults amid the national vaccination campaign. Predictors of hesitancy were identified through multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: Participants had a median age of 29 years (IQR: 23–39), 86.7% were Black African, 63.2% were male, 53.3% resided in rural communities, and 59.3% (95% CI: 53.8% – 64.9%) were classified as vaccine hesitant. The primary reason for not vaccinating was a lack of trust in the vaccine (62.1%). Factors associated with reduced vaccine hesitancy included age (participants aged 35–49 years: OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.18–0.64, p = 0.003; participants over 50 years: OR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.07–0.47, p = 0.0004), previous COVID-19 infection (OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.11–0.87, p = 0.03), and receiving vaccine information from healthcare workers (OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.10–1.0, p = 0.05). Unemployed (OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.1–4.2, p = 0.03) and self-employed individuals (OR: 2.98, 95% CI: 1.27–7.02, p = 0.01) were more likely to be vaccine hesitant. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy rates are high in KwaZulu-Natal. Uptake could be enhanced by healthcare workers leading information campaigns with messages targeting younger individuals, the unemployed, and the self-employed. Contribution: This survey provides evidence to improve COVID-19 vaccination uptake in South Africa.https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/2468covid-19vaccinehesitancyvaccinationsurveysouth africa. |
| spellingShingle | Tanuja N. Gengiah Donavan C. Naidoo Nomcebo Maduma Saien Govender Sherishka Dhindayal Lara Lewis COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A survey of unvaccinated adults Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences covid-19 vaccine hesitancy vaccination survey south africa. |
| title | COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A survey of unvaccinated adults |
| title_full | COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A survey of unvaccinated adults |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A survey of unvaccinated adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A survey of unvaccinated adults |
| title_short | COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A survey of unvaccinated adults |
| title_sort | covid 19 vaccine hesitancy in kwazulu natal south africa a survey of unvaccinated adults |
| topic | covid-19 vaccine hesitancy vaccination survey south africa. |
| url | https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/2468 |
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