Public beliefs and willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccines among adults in South-Western Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

Itse Olaoye; Aniebet Ekong; Abiona Samuel; Eirini Kelaiditi; Kyriaki Myrissa; Tsemaye Jacdonmi; Famokun Gboyega; Itse Olaoye; Aniebet Ekong; Abiona Samuel; Eirini Kelaiditi; Kyriaki Myrissa; Tsemaye Jacdonmi; Famokun Gboyega

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2023001

AIMS Public Health

2023, Volume 10, Issue 1: 1-15. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2023001

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Research article Topical Sections

Public beliefs and willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccines among adults in South-Western Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

1.
World Health Organization Ondo State Field Office, Akure, Nigeria
2.
Faculty of Sport, Allied Health and Performance Science, St Mary's University, Twickenham, London, UK, TW1 4SX
3.
Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth
4.
Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Akure, Nigeria
5.
Ondo State Ministry of Health, Akure, Nigeria

Received: 28 September 2022 Revised: 06 December 2022 Accepted: 09 January 2023 Published: 17 January 2023

Background
Despite the government's and development partners' unmatched efforts to ensure that every eligible person receives vaccinations, there have been concerns about vaccine fear, government mistrust, vaccine hesitancy and rejection expressed by the public, as well as various conspiracy theories involving the COVID-19 vaccines. This study assessed the public beliefs and willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccines and related factors among residents of Ondo State, Nigeria.

Methods
Using a convenience sample technique, a cross-sectional survey of the adult population was carried out in the months of February and March of 2022. Factors influencing beliefs and willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccines were found by using univariate and multivariate statistical analysis.

Results
306 out of 323 respondents completed the survey and were included in the final analysis. The respondents mean age was 28.16 ± 16.2 years. Although n = 223, 72.9% of respondents reported to have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines, (n = 205) 67.0% believed COVID-19 vaccines to be effective. Among the individuals who had not yet had any COVID-19 vaccinations, 2.6% (n = 8) of respondents were willing to accept the vaccines, whereas 14.1% (n = 43) were unwilling. Respondents' beliefs about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines were influenced by their gender, occupation, religion and educational attainment (p < 0.005).

Conclusion
The study revealed a good level of positive beliefs about the vaccine, which was mirrored in vaccination history. However, those who had not yet received the vaccine were unwilling to do so, opening the door for more aggressive risk communication to be able to alter the course of events. In addition to addressing additional COVID-19 vaccination myths, we advise policy-makers to develop communication strategies that emphasise the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. It is advised that all relevant stakeholders be included in government COVID-19 vaccination programmes by sharing timely, transparent information that fosters accountability.
- COVID-19,
- vaccines,
- beliefs,
- willingness,
- vaccination hesitancy,
- Nigeria
Citation: Itse Olaoye, Aniebet Ekong, Abiona Samuel, Eirini Kelaiditi, Kyriaki Myrissa, Tsemaye Jacdonmi, Famokun Gboyega. Public beliefs and willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccines among adults in South-Western Nigeria: A cross-sectional study[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2023, 10(1): 1-15. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2023001

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Abstract

Background

Despite the government's and development partners' unmatched efforts to ensure that every eligible person receives vaccinations, there have been concerns about vaccine fear, government mistrust, vaccine hesitancy and rejection expressed by the public, as well as various conspiracy theories involving the COVID-19 vaccines. This study assessed the public beliefs and willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccines and related factors among residents of Ondo State, Nigeria.

Methods

Using a convenience sample technique, a cross-sectional survey of the adult population was carried out in the months of February and March of 2022. Factors influencing beliefs and willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccines were found by using univariate and multivariate statistical analysis.

Results

306 out of 323 respondents completed the survey and were included in the final analysis. The respondents mean age was 28.16 ± 16.2 years. Although n = 223, 72.9% of respondents reported to have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines, (n = 205) 67.0% believed COVID-19 vaccines to be effective. Among the individuals who had not yet had any COVID-19 vaccinations, 2.6% (n = 8) of respondents were willing to accept the vaccines, whereas 14.1% (n = 43) were unwilling. Respondents' beliefs about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines were influenced by their gender, occupation, religion and educational attainment (p < 0.005).

Conclusion

The study revealed a good level of positive beliefs about the vaccine, which was mirrored in vaccination history. However, those who had not yet received the vaccine were unwilling to do so, opening the door for more aggressive risk communication to be able to alter the course of events. In addition to addressing additional COVID-19 vaccination myths, we advise policy-makers to develop communication strategies that emphasise the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. It is advised that all relevant stakeholders be included in government COVID-19 vaccination programmes by sharing timely, transparent information that fosters accountability.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to all respondents for participating in this study.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

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