Exploring Community Perceptions of COVID-19 and Vaccine Hesitancy in Selected Cities of Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study
Even though the COVID-19 vaccine has been available and free of charge to the targeted population in Ethiopia, the vaccination rate was lower than needed to achieve herd immunity at community level. This study aimed to explore community perceptions of COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy in selected citie...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-09-01
|
| Series: | Vaccines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/10/1511 |
| _version_ | 1797572143065595904 |
|---|---|
| author | Mulugeta Tamire Teferi Abegaz Samson Wakuma Abaya Leuel Lisanwork Lehageru Gizachew Ebba Abate Shu-Hua Wang Wondwossen Gebreyes Abera Kumie |
| author_facet | Mulugeta Tamire Teferi Abegaz Samson Wakuma Abaya Leuel Lisanwork Lehageru Gizachew Ebba Abate Shu-Hua Wang Wondwossen Gebreyes Abera Kumie |
| author_sort | Mulugeta Tamire |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Even though the COVID-19 vaccine has been available and free of charge to the targeted population in Ethiopia, the vaccination rate was lower than needed to achieve herd immunity at community level. This study aimed to explore community perceptions of COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy in selected cities of Ethiopia involving 70 in-depth interviews and 28 focused group discussions. The audio-taped data were transcribed verbatim, translated into English, and analyzed using a qualitative content analysis approach using the ATLAS.ti software version 8. The findings revealed that COVID-19 was perceived as evil and caused fear and frustration upon its emergence. The community initially used traditional remedies for its prevention but later transitioned to employing non-pharmaceutical interventions. The primary reasons for vaccine hesitancy were misinformation and misconceptions, such as connecting the vaccine with the mark of the beast, a lack of trust due to the multiple vaccine types, a shorter production timeline resulting in distrust of its effectiveness, and a fear of pain and side effects. Based on our findings, we recommend monitoring the use of social media and countering misinformation with the correct information and continuous public health campaigns. Further studies should be conducted to assess the types and magnitude of impacts from the myths and misconceptions on vaccination uptake. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:50:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d9433ecfd0c446a5837b8b5d81fce24b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:50:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-d9433ecfd0c446a5837b8b5d81fce24b2023-11-19T18:23:45ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2023-09-011110151110.3390/vaccines11101511Exploring Community Perceptions of COVID-19 and Vaccine Hesitancy in Selected Cities of Ethiopia: A Qualitative StudyMulugeta Tamire0Teferi Abegaz1Samson Wakuma Abaya2Leuel Lisanwork3Lehageru Gizachew4Ebba Abate5Shu-Hua Wang6Wondwossen Gebreyes7Abera Kumie8Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, EthiopiaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, EthiopiaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, EthiopiaOhio State Global One Health, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, EthiopiaOhio State Global One Health, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, EthiopiaOhio State Global One Health, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, EthiopiaGlobal One Health Initiative, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USAGlobal One Health Initiative, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USADepartment of Preventive Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, EthiopiaEven though the COVID-19 vaccine has been available and free of charge to the targeted population in Ethiopia, the vaccination rate was lower than needed to achieve herd immunity at community level. This study aimed to explore community perceptions of COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy in selected cities of Ethiopia involving 70 in-depth interviews and 28 focused group discussions. The audio-taped data were transcribed verbatim, translated into English, and analyzed using a qualitative content analysis approach using the ATLAS.ti software version 8. The findings revealed that COVID-19 was perceived as evil and caused fear and frustration upon its emergence. The community initially used traditional remedies for its prevention but later transitioned to employing non-pharmaceutical interventions. The primary reasons for vaccine hesitancy were misinformation and misconceptions, such as connecting the vaccine with the mark of the beast, a lack of trust due to the multiple vaccine types, a shorter production timeline resulting in distrust of its effectiveness, and a fear of pain and side effects. Based on our findings, we recommend monitoring the use of social media and countering misinformation with the correct information and continuous public health campaigns. Further studies should be conducted to assess the types and magnitude of impacts from the myths and misconceptions on vaccination uptake.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/10/1511COVID-19community perceptionvaccine hesitancyEthiopia |
| spellingShingle | Mulugeta Tamire Teferi Abegaz Samson Wakuma Abaya Leuel Lisanwork Lehageru Gizachew Ebba Abate Shu-Hua Wang Wondwossen Gebreyes Abera Kumie Exploring Community Perceptions of COVID-19 and Vaccine Hesitancy in Selected Cities of Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study Vaccines COVID-19 community perception vaccine hesitancy Ethiopia |
| title | Exploring Community Perceptions of COVID-19 and Vaccine Hesitancy in Selected Cities of Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study |
| title_full | Exploring Community Perceptions of COVID-19 and Vaccine Hesitancy in Selected Cities of Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Community Perceptions of COVID-19 and Vaccine Hesitancy in Selected Cities of Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Community Perceptions of COVID-19 and Vaccine Hesitancy in Selected Cities of Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study |
| title_short | Exploring Community Perceptions of COVID-19 and Vaccine Hesitancy in Selected Cities of Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study |
| title_sort | exploring community perceptions of covid 19 and vaccine hesitancy in selected cities of ethiopia a qualitative study |
| topic | COVID-19 community perception vaccine hesitancy Ethiopia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/10/1511 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mulugetatamire exploringcommunityperceptionsofcovid19andvaccinehesitancyinselectedcitiesofethiopiaaqualitativestudy AT teferiabegaz exploringcommunityperceptionsofcovid19andvaccinehesitancyinselectedcitiesofethiopiaaqualitativestudy AT samsonwakumaabaya exploringcommunityperceptionsofcovid19andvaccinehesitancyinselectedcitiesofethiopiaaqualitativestudy AT leuellisanwork exploringcommunityperceptionsofcovid19andvaccinehesitancyinselectedcitiesofethiopiaaqualitativestudy AT lehagerugizachew exploringcommunityperceptionsofcovid19andvaccinehesitancyinselectedcitiesofethiopiaaqualitativestudy AT ebbaabate exploringcommunityperceptionsofcovid19andvaccinehesitancyinselectedcitiesofethiopiaaqualitativestudy AT shuhuawang exploringcommunityperceptionsofcovid19andvaccinehesitancyinselectedcitiesofethiopiaaqualitativestudy AT wondwossengebreyes exploringcommunityperceptionsofcovid19andvaccinehesitancyinselectedcitiesofethiopiaaqualitativestudy AT aberakumie exploringcommunityperceptionsofcovid19andvaccinehesitancyinselectedcitiesofethiopiaaqualitativestudy |