Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among sub-Saharan Africans (SSA): A comparative study of residents and diasporan dwellers

Miner, Chundung Asabe; Timothy, Chikasirimobi G.; Percy, Khathutshelo; Mashige; Osuagwu, Uchechukwu Levi; Envuladu, Esther Awazzi; Amiebenomo, Onyekachukwu Mary-Anne; Ovenseri-Ogbomo, Godwin; Charwe, Deborah Donald; Goson, Piwuna Christopher; Ekpenyong, Bernadine N.; Abu, Emmanuel Kwasi; Langsi, Raymond; Oloruntoba, Richard; Ishaya, Tanko; Agho, Kingsley E.

Abstract

Background
The COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out across all the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, with countries setting targets for achieving full vaccination rates. The aim of this study was to compare the uptake of, resistance and hesitancy to the COVID-19 vaccine between SSA locally residents and in the diasporan dwellers.

Methods
This was a cross-sectional study conducted using a web and paper-based questionnaire to obtain relevant information on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. The survey items included questions on demography, uptake and planned acceptance or non-acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines among SSAs. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine probabilities of outcomes for factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination resistance and hesitancy among SSA respondents residing within and outside Africa.

Results
Uptake of COVID-19 vaccines varied among the local (14.2%) and diasporan (25.3%) dwellers. There were more locals (68.1%) who were resistant to COVID-19 vaccine. Participants’ sex [adjusted relative risk (ARR) = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.58 – 0.93], education [primary/less: ARR = 0.22, CI:0.12 – 0.40, and bachelor’s degree: ARR = 0.58, CI: 0.43 – 0.77]), occupation [ARR = 0.32, CI: 0.25—0.40] and working status [ARR = 1.40, CI: 1.06—1.84] were associated with COVID-19 vaccine resistance among locals. Similar proportion of local and diasporan dwellers (~ 18% each) were hesitant to COVID-19 vaccine, and this was higher among health care workers [ARR = 0.25, CI: 0.10 – 0.62 and ARR = 0.24, CI:0.18—0.32, diaspora and locals respectively]. After adjusting for the potential confounders, local residents aged 29–38 years [ARR = 1.89, CI: 1.26—2.84] and lived in East Africa [ARR = 4.64, CI: 1.84—11.70] were more likely to report vaccine hesitancy. Knowledge of COVID vaccines was associated with hesitancy among local and diasporan dwellers, but perception was associated with vaccine resistance [ARR = 0.86,CI: 0.82 – 0.90] and hesitancy [ARR = 0.85, CI: 0.80 – 0.90], only among the local residents.

Conclusions
Differences exist in the factors that influence COVID-19 vaccine acceptance between local SSA residents and thediasporan dwellers. Knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines affects the uptake, resistance, and hesitancy to the COVID-19 vaccine. Information campaigns focusing on the efficacy and safety of vaccines could lead to improved acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 23, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jan 28, 2023
• Publication Date: Jan 28, 2023
• Deposit Date: Aug 12, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 12, 2024
• Journal: BMC Public Health
• Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Article Number: 191
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15116-w
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/12781185