Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Uganda: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey
Allen Kabagenyi,1 Ronald Wasswa,2 Betty K Nannyonga,3 Evelyne B Nyachwo,4 Atek Kagirita,5 Juliet Nabirye,4 Leonard Atuhaire,6 Peter Waiswa4 1Department of Population Studies, School of Statistics & Planning, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 2Depa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2022-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of General Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/factors-associated-with-covid-19-vaccine-hesitancy-in-uganda-a-populat-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJGM |
| _version_ | 1811276902953910272 |
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| author | Kabagenyi A Wasswa R Nannyonga BK Nyachwo EB Kagirita A Nabirye J Atuhaire L Waiswa P |
| author_facet | Kabagenyi A Wasswa R Nannyonga BK Nyachwo EB Kagirita A Nabirye J Atuhaire L Waiswa P |
| author_sort | Kabagenyi A |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Allen Kabagenyi,1 Ronald Wasswa,2 Betty K Nannyonga,3 Evelyne B Nyachwo,4 Atek Kagirita,5 Juliet Nabirye,4 Leonard Atuhaire,6 Peter Waiswa4 1Department of Population Studies, School of Statistics & Planning, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 2Department of Statistical Methods and Actuarial Science, School of Statistics & Planning, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 3Department of Mathematics, School of Natural Science, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 4Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 5Department of National Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; 6Department of Planning and Applied Statistics, School of Statistics & Planning, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaCorrespondence: Allen Kabagenyi, Department of Population Studies, School of Statistics & Planning, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, Email allenka79@yahoo.comPurpose: Vaccination toward coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been recommended and adopted as one of the measures of reducing the spread of this novel disease worldwide. Despite this, vaccine uptake among the Ugandan population has been low with reasons surrounding this being unknown. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Uganda.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 1042 adults in the districts of Mukono, Kiboga, Kumi, Soroti, Gulu, Amuru, Mbarara and Sheema from June to November 2021. Data were analyzed using STATA v.15. Barriers to vaccination were analyzed descriptively, while a binary logistic regression model was used to establish the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.Results: Overall, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was 58.6% (611). Respondents from urban areas and those in the eastern or northern region had increased odds of vaccine hesitancy. Further, higher education level and having knowledge on how COVID-19 is transmitted significantly reduced the odds of vaccine hesitancy. The study also noted individual perception such as COVID-19 kills only people with underlying medical conditions, as well as limited awareness on vaccine types or vaccination areas as the main reasons to vaccine hesitancy. Relatedly, other misconceptions like the ability of the vaccine to cause infertility, or spreading the virus into the body, and acknowledgment of alcohol as a possible cure were other reasons for vaccine hesitancy.Conclusion: The proportion of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is still high among the population with this varying across regions. This is driven by low education level and limited awareness on the vaccination as well as perceived myths and misconceptions. The study recommends mass sensitization of the population on the benefits of vaccination using various channels as well as rolling out community-based outreach vaccination campaigns across the country.Keywords: COVID-19, vaccination, hesitancy, barriers, pandemic, Uganda |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:06:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b436ba8b2c064512ba9127a625d32b56 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1178-7074 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:06:07Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of General Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-b436ba8b2c064512ba9127a625d32b562022-12-22T03:11:13ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of General Medicine1178-70742022-08-01Volume 156837684777729Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Uganda: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional SurveyKabagenyi AWasswa RNannyonga BKNyachwo EBKagirita ANabirye JAtuhaire LWaiswa PAllen Kabagenyi,1 Ronald Wasswa,2 Betty K Nannyonga,3 Evelyne B Nyachwo,4 Atek Kagirita,5 Juliet Nabirye,4 Leonard Atuhaire,6 Peter Waiswa4 1Department of Population Studies, School of Statistics & Planning, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 2Department of Statistical Methods and Actuarial Science, School of Statistics & Planning, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 3Department of Mathematics, School of Natural Science, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 4Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 5Department of National Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; 6Department of Planning and Applied Statistics, School of Statistics & Planning, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaCorrespondence: Allen Kabagenyi, Department of Population Studies, School of Statistics & Planning, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, Email allenka79@yahoo.comPurpose: Vaccination toward coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been recommended and adopted as one of the measures of reducing the spread of this novel disease worldwide. Despite this, vaccine uptake among the Ugandan population has been low with reasons surrounding this being unknown. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Uganda.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 1042 adults in the districts of Mukono, Kiboga, Kumi, Soroti, Gulu, Amuru, Mbarara and Sheema from June to November 2021. Data were analyzed using STATA v.15. Barriers to vaccination were analyzed descriptively, while a binary logistic regression model was used to establish the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.Results: Overall, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was 58.6% (611). Respondents from urban areas and those in the eastern or northern region had increased odds of vaccine hesitancy. Further, higher education level and having knowledge on how COVID-19 is transmitted significantly reduced the odds of vaccine hesitancy. The study also noted individual perception such as COVID-19 kills only people with underlying medical conditions, as well as limited awareness on vaccine types or vaccination areas as the main reasons to vaccine hesitancy. Relatedly, other misconceptions like the ability of the vaccine to cause infertility, or spreading the virus into the body, and acknowledgment of alcohol as a possible cure were other reasons for vaccine hesitancy.Conclusion: The proportion of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is still high among the population with this varying across regions. This is driven by low education level and limited awareness on the vaccination as well as perceived myths and misconceptions. The study recommends mass sensitization of the population on the benefits of vaccination using various channels as well as rolling out community-based outreach vaccination campaigns across the country.Keywords: COVID-19, vaccination, hesitancy, barriers, pandemic, Ugandahttps://www.dovepress.com/factors-associated-with-covid-19-vaccine-hesitancy-in-uganda-a-populat-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJGMcovid-19vaccinationhesitancybarrierspandemicuganda |
| spellingShingle | Kabagenyi A Wasswa R Nannyonga BK Nyachwo EB Kagirita A Nabirye J Atuhaire L Waiswa P Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Uganda: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey International Journal of General Medicine covid-19 vaccination hesitancy barriers pandemic uganda |
| title | Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Uganda: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_full | Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Uganda: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_fullStr | Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Uganda: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Uganda: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_short | Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Uganda: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_sort | factors associated with covid 19 vaccine hesitancy in uganda a population based cross sectional survey |
| topic | covid-19 vaccination hesitancy barriers pandemic uganda |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/factors-associated-with-covid-19-vaccine-hesitancy-in-uganda-a-populat-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJGM |
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