Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Schoolgoing Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa
(1) Background: By October 2022, vaccination rates with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine were low among adolescent girls aged 12–17 (38%) and young women aged 18–34 (45%) in South Africa. This study aimed to measure and identify barriers to and facilitators of motivation to take up, access to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Vaccines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/10/1581 |
| _version_ | 1797572149764947968 |
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| author | Kate Bergh Kim Jonas Zoe Duby Darshini Govindasamy Catherine Mathews Tarylee Reddy Nevilene Slingers Granville Whittle Fareed Abdullah |
| author_facet | Kate Bergh Kim Jonas Zoe Duby Darshini Govindasamy Catherine Mathews Tarylee Reddy Nevilene Slingers Granville Whittle Fareed Abdullah |
| author_sort | Kate Bergh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Background: By October 2022, vaccination rates with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine were low among adolescent girls aged 12–17 (38%) and young women aged 18–34 (45%) in South Africa. This study aimed to measure and identify barriers to and facilitators of motivation to take up, access to, and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among schoolgoing adolescent girls and young women in two districts in South Africa. (2) Methods: Using the theory of the HIV prevention cascade, we conceptualised the relationship between motivation, access, and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, and associated barriers. Potential barriers and facilitators were identified using bivariate and multivariable Poisson regression. (3) Results: Among all 2375 participants, access was high (69%), but motivation (49%) and vaccination with at least one COVID-19 vaccine (45%) were lower. Fear of injections was a barrier to vaccine uptake (aRR 0.85 95% CI 0.82–0.88), while being tested for COVID-19 (aRR 2.10 95% CI 1.85–2.38) and believing that the COVID-19 vaccine was safe (aRR 1.31 95% CI 1.18–1.44) and would prevent you from getting very sick (aRR 1.11 95% CI 1.04–1.19) were facilitators. (4) Conclusions: The controversy about the value of vaccinating adolescents and the delay in vaccine rollout for adolescents and young adults may have contributed to fears about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as a lack of motivation to get vaccinated. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:50:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa81112f95674107849713f4e1c67f1a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:50:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa81112f95674107849713f4e1c67f1a2023-11-19T18:24:52ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2023-10-011110158110.3390/vaccines11101581Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Schoolgoing Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South AfricaKate Bergh0Kim Jonas1Zoe Duby2Darshini Govindasamy3Catherine Mathews4Tarylee Reddy5Nevilene Slingers6Granville Whittle7Fareed Abdullah8Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7501, South AfricaHealth Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7501, South AfricaHealth Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7501, South AfricaHealth Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7501, South AfricaHealth Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7501, South AfricaBiostatistics Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Durban 4091, South AfricaOffice of AIDS and TB Research, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaDepartment of Basic Education, Government of South Africa, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaOffice of AIDS and TB Research, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria 0001, South Africa(1) Background: By October 2022, vaccination rates with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine were low among adolescent girls aged 12–17 (38%) and young women aged 18–34 (45%) in South Africa. This study aimed to measure and identify barriers to and facilitators of motivation to take up, access to, and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among schoolgoing adolescent girls and young women in two districts in South Africa. (2) Methods: Using the theory of the HIV prevention cascade, we conceptualised the relationship between motivation, access, and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, and associated barriers. Potential barriers and facilitators were identified using bivariate and multivariable Poisson regression. (3) Results: Among all 2375 participants, access was high (69%), but motivation (49%) and vaccination with at least one COVID-19 vaccine (45%) were lower. Fear of injections was a barrier to vaccine uptake (aRR 0.85 95% CI 0.82–0.88), while being tested for COVID-19 (aRR 2.10 95% CI 1.85–2.38) and believing that the COVID-19 vaccine was safe (aRR 1.31 95% CI 1.18–1.44) and would prevent you from getting very sick (aRR 1.11 95% CI 1.04–1.19) were facilitators. (4) Conclusions: The controversy about the value of vaccinating adolescents and the delay in vaccine rollout for adolescents and young adults may have contributed to fears about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as a lack of motivation to get vaccinated.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/10/1581COVID-19 vaccinationprevention cascadesadolescent girls and young womenSouth Africa |
| spellingShingle | Kate Bergh Kim Jonas Zoe Duby Darshini Govindasamy Catherine Mathews Tarylee Reddy Nevilene Slingers Granville Whittle Fareed Abdullah Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Schoolgoing Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa Vaccines COVID-19 vaccination prevention cascades adolescent girls and young women South Africa |
| title | Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Schoolgoing Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa |
| title_full | Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Schoolgoing Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Schoolgoing Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Schoolgoing Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa |
| title_short | Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Schoolgoing Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa |
| title_sort | factors associated with covid 19 vaccine uptake among schoolgoing adolescent girls and young women in south africa |
| topic | COVID-19 vaccination prevention cascades adolescent girls and young women South Africa |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/10/1581 |
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