Barriers affecting COVID‑19 vaccination in Phalombe District, Malawi: A qualitative study
Background. In Malawi, only 1 072 229 people out of a national target population of 13 546 324 had received at least one dose of the AstraZeneca COVID‑19 vaccine by 26 December 2021, and only 672 819 people were classified as fully vaccinated. Phalombe District in Malawi had particularly low COVID‑...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
South African Medical Association
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | South African Medical Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/842 |
| _version_ | 1797328664600248320 |
|---|---|
| author | CS Chimatiro P Hajison CD Jella L Tshotetsi F Mpachika-Mfipa |
| author_facet | CS Chimatiro P Hajison CD Jella L Tshotetsi F Mpachika-Mfipa |
| author_sort | CS Chimatiro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background. In Malawi, only 1 072 229 people out of a national target population of 13 546 324 had received at least one dose of
the AstraZeneca COVID‑19 vaccine by 26 December 2021, and only 672 819 people were classified as fully vaccinated. Phalombe
District in Malawi had particularly low COVID‑19 vaccine uptake, with only 4% (n=8 538) of 225 219 people being fully vaccinated by
26 December.
Objectives. To explore reasons for vaccine hesitancy and refusal among people living in Phalombe District.
Methods. This cross-sectional qualitative study employed six focus group discussions (FGDs) and 19 in-depth interviews (IDIs) to collect data. We purposefully selected two traditional authorities (TAs), Nazombe and Nkhumba, as study areas, and conducted FGDs and IDIs in 6 randomly selected villages in these two TAs. Participants were religious leaders, traditional leaders, youths, traditional healers and ordinary community members. We explored reasons for vaccine refusal and hesitancy, how contextual cultural beliefs influenced people’s decision to receive the COVID‑19 vaccine, and which sources of information were trusted in the community. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis.
Results. We conducted 19 IDIs and six FGDs. Themes that emerged from the data were reasons for vaccine refusal and hesitancy, contextual cultural beliefs affecting the decision whether to be vaccinated, ways to improve COVID‑19 vaccine uptake, and means of communicating information about COVID‑19 vaccines. Participants mentioned that myths contributing to vaccine refusal and hesitancy circulated in the community through social media. With regard to contextual cultural beliefs, most participants believed that COVID‑19 was a disease of rich people, while others believed that it signalled the end of the world and that it could not be cured.
Conclusion. Health systems should recognise and acknowledge the reasons leading to vaccine hesitancy and refusal and address these appropriately to improve vaccine uptake. Effective community sensitisation and engagement should be enhanced to clarify myths and address misinformation about the COVID‑19 vaccine.
|
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:54:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7066f9779b5a4f9d90b54fcf5b7226e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0256-9574 2078-5135 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:54:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | South African Medical Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-7066f9779b5a4f9d90b54fcf5b7226e62024-02-03T06:37:43ZengSouth African Medical AssociationSouth African Medical Journal0256-95742078-51352023-03-0110.7196/SAMJ.2023.v113i4.16654Barriers affecting COVID‑19 vaccination in Phalombe District, Malawi: A qualitative studyCS Chimatiro0P Hajison1CD Jella2L Tshotetsi3F Mpachika-Mfipa4Phalombe District Health Office, Phalombe, MalawiPreLuHa consultancy, Zomba, MalawiPhalombe District Health Office, Phalombe, MalawiClinical Associate Programme, Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South AfricaPhalombe District Health Office, Phalombe, Malawi Background. In Malawi, only 1 072 229 people out of a national target population of 13 546 324 had received at least one dose of the AstraZeneca COVID‑19 vaccine by 26 December 2021, and only 672 819 people were classified as fully vaccinated. Phalombe District in Malawi had particularly low COVID‑19 vaccine uptake, with only 4% (n=8 538) of 225 219 people being fully vaccinated by 26 December. Objectives. To explore reasons for vaccine hesitancy and refusal among people living in Phalombe District. Methods. This cross-sectional qualitative study employed six focus group discussions (FGDs) and 19 in-depth interviews (IDIs) to collect data. We purposefully selected two traditional authorities (TAs), Nazombe and Nkhumba, as study areas, and conducted FGDs and IDIs in 6 randomly selected villages in these two TAs. Participants were religious leaders, traditional leaders, youths, traditional healers and ordinary community members. We explored reasons for vaccine refusal and hesitancy, how contextual cultural beliefs influenced people’s decision to receive the COVID‑19 vaccine, and which sources of information were trusted in the community. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results. We conducted 19 IDIs and six FGDs. Themes that emerged from the data were reasons for vaccine refusal and hesitancy, contextual cultural beliefs affecting the decision whether to be vaccinated, ways to improve COVID‑19 vaccine uptake, and means of communicating information about COVID‑19 vaccines. Participants mentioned that myths contributing to vaccine refusal and hesitancy circulated in the community through social media. With regard to contextual cultural beliefs, most participants believed that COVID‑19 was a disease of rich people, while others believed that it signalled the end of the world and that it could not be cured. Conclusion. Health systems should recognise and acknowledge the reasons leading to vaccine hesitancy and refusal and address these appropriately to improve vaccine uptake. Effective community sensitisation and engagement should be enhanced to clarify myths and address misinformation about the COVID‑19 vaccine. https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/842COVID-19PandemicVaccine |
| spellingShingle | CS Chimatiro P Hajison CD Jella L Tshotetsi F Mpachika-Mfipa Barriers affecting COVID‑19 vaccination in Phalombe District, Malawi: A qualitative study South African Medical Journal COVID-19 Pandemic Vaccine |
| title | Barriers affecting COVID‑19 vaccination in Phalombe District, Malawi: A qualitative study |
| title_full | Barriers affecting COVID‑19 vaccination in Phalombe District, Malawi: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Barriers affecting COVID‑19 vaccination in Phalombe District, Malawi: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Barriers affecting COVID‑19 vaccination in Phalombe District, Malawi: A qualitative study |
| title_short | Barriers affecting COVID‑19 vaccination in Phalombe District, Malawi: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | barriers affecting covid 19 vaccination in phalombe district malawi a qualitative study |
| topic | COVID-19 Pandemic Vaccine |
| url | https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/842 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cschimatiro barriersaffectingcovid19vaccinationinphalombedistrictmalawiaqualitativestudy AT phajison barriersaffectingcovid19vaccinationinphalombedistrictmalawiaqualitativestudy AT cdjella barriersaffectingcovid19vaccinationinphalombedistrictmalawiaqualitativestudy AT ltshotetsi barriersaffectingcovid19vaccinationinphalombedistrictmalawiaqualitativestudy AT fmpachikamfipa barriersaffectingcovid19vaccinationinphalombedistrictmalawiaqualitativestudy |