COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Cross-Sectional Survey
We investigated the level of willingness for COVID-19 vaccination in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Data were collected between 24 August 2020 and 8 September 2020 through an online survey. A total of 4131 responses were included; mean age of respondents was 35 years (standard deviation: 11...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Vaccines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/2/153 |
| _version_ | 1827589237706326016 |
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| author | John D. Ditekemena Dalau M. Nkamba Armand Mutwadi Hypolite M. Mavoko Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo Christophe Luhata Michael Obimpeh Stijn Van Hees Jean B. Nachega Robert Colebunders |
| author_facet | John D. Ditekemena Dalau M. Nkamba Armand Mutwadi Hypolite M. Mavoko Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo Christophe Luhata Michael Obimpeh Stijn Van Hees Jean B. Nachega Robert Colebunders |
| author_sort | John D. Ditekemena |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We investigated the level of willingness for COVID-19 vaccination in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Data were collected between 24 August 2020 and 8 September 2020 through an online survey. A total of 4131 responses were included; mean age of respondents was 35 years (standard deviation: 11.5); 68.4% were females; 71% had elementary or secondary school education. One fourth (24.1%) were convinced that COVID-19 did not exist. Overall, 2310 (55.9%) indicated they were willing to be vaccinated. In a multivariable regression model, belonging to the middle and high-income category (OR = 1.85, CI: 1.46–2.35 and OR = 2.91, CI: 2.15–3.93, respectively), being tested for COVID-19 (OR = 4.71, CI: 3.62–6.12; <i>p</i> < 0.001), COVID-19 community vaccine acceptance (OR = 14.45, CI: 2.91–71.65; <i>p</i> = 0.001) and acknowledging the existence of COVID-19 (OR = 6.04, CI: 4.42–8.23; <i>p</i> < 0.001) were associated with an increased willingness to be vaccinated. Being a healthcare worker was associated with a decreased willingness for vaccination (OR = 0.46, CI: 0.36–0.58; <i>p</i> < 0.001). In conclusion, the current willingness for COVID-19 vaccination among citizens of the DRC is too low to dramatically decrease community transmission. Of great concern is the low intention of immunization among healthcare workers. A large sensitization campaign will be needed to increase COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:52:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ad65635bd4754ba7a308aeac63530cfc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:52:48Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-ad65635bd4754ba7a308aeac63530cfc2023-12-11T17:05:34ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2021-02-019215310.3390/vaccines9020153COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Cross-Sectional SurveyJohn D. Ditekemena0Dalau M. Nkamba1Armand Mutwadi2Hypolite M. Mavoko3Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo4Christophe Luhata5Michael Obimpeh6Stijn Van Hees7Jean B. Nachega8Robert Colebunders9Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 7948, Democratic Republic of the CongoKinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 7948, Democratic Republic of the CongoKinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 7948, Democratic Republic of the CongoDepartment of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 7948, Democratic Republic of the CongoGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, BelgiumKinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 7948, Democratic Republic of the CongoGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, BelgiumGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, BelgiumDepartment of Epidemiology Infectious Diseases and Microbiology and Center for Global Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USAGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, BelgiumWe investigated the level of willingness for COVID-19 vaccination in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Data were collected between 24 August 2020 and 8 September 2020 through an online survey. A total of 4131 responses were included; mean age of respondents was 35 years (standard deviation: 11.5); 68.4% were females; 71% had elementary or secondary school education. One fourth (24.1%) were convinced that COVID-19 did not exist. Overall, 2310 (55.9%) indicated they were willing to be vaccinated. In a multivariable regression model, belonging to the middle and high-income category (OR = 1.85, CI: 1.46–2.35 and OR = 2.91, CI: 2.15–3.93, respectively), being tested for COVID-19 (OR = 4.71, CI: 3.62–6.12; <i>p</i> < 0.001), COVID-19 community vaccine acceptance (OR = 14.45, CI: 2.91–71.65; <i>p</i> = 0.001) and acknowledging the existence of COVID-19 (OR = 6.04, CI: 4.42–8.23; <i>p</i> < 0.001) were associated with an increased willingness to be vaccinated. Being a healthcare worker was associated with a decreased willingness for vaccination (OR = 0.46, CI: 0.36–0.58; <i>p</i> < 0.001). In conclusion, the current willingness for COVID-19 vaccination among citizens of the DRC is too low to dramatically decrease community transmission. Of great concern is the low intention of immunization among healthcare workers. A large sensitization campaign will be needed to increase COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/2/153COVID-19vaccine acceptancedeterminants and infectious diseases |
| spellingShingle | John D. Ditekemena Dalau M. Nkamba Armand Mutwadi Hypolite M. Mavoko Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo Christophe Luhata Michael Obimpeh Stijn Van Hees Jean B. Nachega Robert Colebunders COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Cross-Sectional Survey Vaccines COVID-19 vaccine acceptance determinants and infectious diseases |
| title | COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_full | COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_short | COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_sort | covid 19 vaccine acceptance in the democratic republic of congo a cross sectional survey |
| topic | COVID-19 vaccine acceptance determinants and infectious diseases |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/2/153 |
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