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Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers in Tanzania : A Mixed-Methods Study

Amour, Maryam A. ; Mboya, Innocent B. LU orcid ; Ndumwa, Harrieth P. ; Kengia, James T. ; Metta, Emmy ; Njiro, Belinda J. ; Nyamuryekung’e, Kasusu Klint ; Mhamilawa, Lwidiko E. ; Shayo, Elizabeth H. and Ngalesoni, Frida , et al. (2023) In COVID 3(5). p.777-791
Abstract

The novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents a major threat to public health but can be prevented by safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine acceptance among healthcare workers (HCWs) is essential to promote uptake. This study, aimed to determine the COVID-19 vaccination uptake and hesitancy and its associated factors among HCWs in Tanzania. We employed a convergent-parallel mixed-methods design among 1368 HCWs across health facilities in seven geographical zones in Tanzania in 2021. We collected quantitative data by using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and qualitative data, using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Participants in the quantitative aspect were conveniently selected whereas those... (More)

The novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents a major threat to public health but can be prevented by safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine acceptance among healthcare workers (HCWs) is essential to promote uptake. This study, aimed to determine the COVID-19 vaccination uptake and hesitancy and its associated factors among HCWs in Tanzania. We employed a convergent-parallel mixed-methods design among 1368 HCWs across health facilities in seven geographical zones in Tanzania in 2021. We collected quantitative data by using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and qualitative data, using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Participants in the quantitative aspect were conveniently selected whereas those in the qualitative aspect were purposively selected based on their role in patient care, management, and vaccine provision. Stata software version 16.1 was used in the analysis of quantitative data and thematic analysis for the qualitative data. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake. The median age of 1368 HCWs was 33, and the interquartile range was 28–43 years; 65.6% were aged 30+ years, and 60.1% were females. Over half (53.4%) of all HCWs received the COVID-19 vaccine, 33.6% completely refused, and 13% chose to wait. HCWs aged 40+ years, from lower-level facilities (district hospitals and health centers), who worked 6+ years, and with perceived high/very high risk of COVID-19 infection had significantly higher odds of vaccine uptake. The qualitative data revealed misinformation and inadequate knowledge about COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy as the key barriers to uptake. Nearly half of all HCWs in Tanzania are still unvaccinated against COVID-19. The predominance of contextual influence on COVID-19 vaccine uptake calls for interventions to focus on addressing contextual determinants, focusing on younger HCWs’ population, short working duration, those working at different facility levels, and providing adequate vaccine knowledge.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
barriers, COVID-19, healthcare workers, Tanzania, vaccine acceptability, vaccine hesitancy, vaccine uptake
in
COVID
volume
3
issue
5
pages
15 pages
publisher
MDPI AG
external identifiers
  • scopus:85172275564
ISSN
2673-8112
DOI
10.3390/covid3050058
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.
id
6bfac741-4a5c-4d5e-a3b0-4b82ab5e5f7a
date added to LUP
2024-05-13 08:56:18
date last changed
2024-05-14 10:19:28
@article{6bfac741-4a5c-4d5e-a3b0-4b82ab5e5f7a,
  abstract     = {{<p>The novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents a major threat to public health but can be prevented by safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine acceptance among healthcare workers (HCWs) is essential to promote uptake. This study, aimed to determine the COVID-19 vaccination uptake and hesitancy and its associated factors among HCWs in Tanzania. We employed a convergent-parallel mixed-methods design among 1368 HCWs across health facilities in seven geographical zones in Tanzania in 2021. We collected quantitative data by using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and qualitative data, using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Participants in the quantitative aspect were conveniently selected whereas those in the qualitative aspect were purposively selected based on their role in patient care, management, and vaccine provision. Stata software version 16.1 was used in the analysis of quantitative data and thematic analysis for the qualitative data. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake. The median age of 1368 HCWs was 33, and the interquartile range was 28–43 years; 65.6% were aged 30+ years, and 60.1% were females. Over half (53.4%) of all HCWs received the COVID-19 vaccine, 33.6% completely refused, and 13% chose to wait. HCWs aged 40+ years, from lower-level facilities (district hospitals and health centers), who worked 6+ years, and with perceived high/very high risk of COVID-19 infection had significantly higher odds of vaccine uptake. The qualitative data revealed misinformation and inadequate knowledge about COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy as the key barriers to uptake. Nearly half of all HCWs in Tanzania are still unvaccinated against COVID-19. The predominance of contextual influence on COVID-19 vaccine uptake calls for interventions to focus on addressing contextual determinants, focusing on younger HCWs’ population, short working duration, those working at different facility levels, and providing adequate vaccine knowledge.</p>}},
  author       = {{Amour, Maryam A. and Mboya, Innocent B. and Ndumwa, Harrieth P. and Kengia, James T. and Metta, Emmy and Njiro, Belinda J. and Nyamuryekung’e, Kasusu Klint and Mhamilawa, Lwidiko E. and Shayo, Elizabeth H. and Ngalesoni, Frida and Kapologwe, Ntuli and Sunguya, Bruno and Msuya, Sia E. and Kalolo, Albino}},
  issn         = {{2673-8112}},
  keywords     = {{barriers; COVID-19; healthcare workers; Tanzania; vaccine acceptability; vaccine hesitancy; vaccine uptake}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{777--791}},
  publisher    = {{MDPI AG}},
  series       = {{COVID}},
  title        = {{Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers in Tanzania : A Mixed-Methods Study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/covid3050058}},
  doi          = {{10.3390/covid3050058}},
  volume       = {{3}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}