Isokariari Ogechukwu Mary-Anne
Department of Community Medicine, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria & Department of Epidemiology, University of Port Harcourt, School of Public Health, Port Harcourt, Nigeria & Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Rivers State.
Asuru Meredith Chiwenkpe
Department of Epidemiology, University of Port Harcourt, School Of Public Health, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Brahim Shuaibu Onoruoyiza
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, Nigeria
Ahmed Ganiyu Olanipekun
2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal Medical Centre Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria
Usman Suleiman Alhaji
Department of Internal Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Nigeria
Lawal Qudus Olajide
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
Alinnor Ezioma Anne
Department of Paediatrics, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Ihedoro Ifeanyichukwu Emmanuel
Department of Surgery, Federal Medical Center Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria
Mata Terver
Department of Radiology, Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria
Nwazor Ernest Okwundu
Department of Internal Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
Onyeaghala Chizaram Anselm
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria
Nnamani Ifeoma Ogonna
Department of Paediatrics, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Gberedomgbara Dummene Emmauel
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Nwasogwa Uchechi Kosisochukwu
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Ogunkayode Oluwatosin Stephen
Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin Kwara State, Nigeria
Salami Chika
Department of Clinical Research, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom
Kosisochukwu Uchechi
epartment of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Opeyemi Folorunsho
African Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Omosivie Maduka
Department of Community Medicine, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria & Department of Epidemiology, University of Port Harcourt, School of Public Health, Port Harcourt, Nigeria & Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Rivers State.
Keywords
COVID-19, Vaccine, Perception, Barriers, Uptake, Healthcare Workers
Abstract
Background: Nigeria deployed the COVID-19 vaccine in a phased manner with health workers being among the initial subgroups to have access. This study compared recent estimates of knowledge of and barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake among health and non-health workers.
Methodology: A cross-sectional national study was conducted between February and April 2022. A multistage sampling method was used in recruiting 904 healthcare and 1013 non-health workers from all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Bivariate analysis using the Chi-square test was used to investigate the association between being a health worker and vaccine knowledge and barriers to uptake with the significance level set at <0.05.
Results: The mean age of respondents was 35.910.7 years, with 1092 males (57.0%) and 825 females (43.0%). A greater proportion of health workers compared to non-health workers agreed that the COVID-19 vaccine should be received by everyone (2=118.757, P<0.0001); that it was important to get vaccinated to protect those who cannot (2=111.565, P<0.0001); that there are better ways to prevent COVID-19 (2=211.281, P<0.0001); agreed with leaders who do not support vaccination (2=120.837, P<0.0001); with employees advice to get vaccinated (2=96.606, P<0.0001); and that the reason they got vaccinated was to enable them to enter regulated premises (2=8.754, P= 0.003). Distance from clinics (2=15.746, P<0.0001), being sent home due to lack of vaccines (2=4.149, P=0.042); and not returning to the clinic a second time when sent home initially (2=18.650, P<0.0001) were all significant barriers to receiving COVID-19 vaccine for non-health workers.
Conclusions: Our study specifies a gap in perception of and barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake among non-health workers in Nigeria. If vaccine coverage must be optimized, an improved strategy is advocated to improve non-health workers’ perception of and access to COVID-19 vaccines.
Abstract