Manuscript Title:

EXAMINING THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND HESITANCY TOWARDS COVID-19 VACCINES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Author:

OKOLI PAUL CHIBUIKE, EZAKA EMMANUEL SOCHUKWUMA, OFOJEBE CHUKWUMA PHILIP, OKWOR ESTHER NWAKAEGO, EZE UCHENNA GERALD, CHIME PETER EKPUNOBI, EZAKA EPHRAIM IBEABUCHI

DOI Number:

DOI:10.17605/OSF.IO/FR67Z

Published : 2023-02-23

About the author(s)

1. OKOLI PAUL CHIBUIKE - Department of Psychiatry, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu.
2. EZAKA EMMANUEL SOCHUKWUMA - Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria Nsukka-Enugu State.
3. OFOJEBE CHUKWUMA PHILIP - Department of Psychology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State.
4. OKWOR ESTHER NWAKAEGO - Department of Psychiatry, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu.
5. EZE UCHENNA GERALD - Department of Psychiatry, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu.
6. CHIME PETER EKPUNOBI - Department of Internal Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu.
7. EZAKA EPHRAIM IBEABUCHI - Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Technology Mubi, Adamawa State.

Full Text : PDF

Abstract

The present study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccines among internet users in Sub-Saharan Africa. Data were collected online using Google form among four hundred and thirty (430) social media users across these African countries; Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon. Their ages range from 18 to 61 years, M = 31.05; SD = 6.96 and data collection lasted from September to November 2021. Instruments used in data collect included; the General Knowledge of COVID-19 Vaccine Questionnaire, the Attitudes towards COVID-19 Vaccines Questionnaire, and the COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (COVID-19-VHS). The results showed that good knowledge of COVID-19 vaccines was recorded among internet users in Ghana (31.5%), Cameroon (34.8%), and Nigeria (33.7%). Positive attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccines were recorded among internet users in Ghana (54.2%), and Cameroon (35.6%), while Nigerian internet users recorded negative attitudes towards the vaccines at 10.2%. COVID-19 vaccines acceptance was recorded higher in Ghana (41.9%), while participants in Nigeria (39.1%), and Cameroon (19.0%) had lower outcome in both acceptability and possible to be vaccination. This indicates that internet users in Ghana had the will to be vaccinated, while internet users in Nigeria and Cameroon had low or no zeal to accept vaccination. Lastly, among all the participants, both general knowledge of COIVD-19 vaccines and the attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccines significantly predicted COVID-19 vaccination compliance (B=.37, t=8.24, p=0.5; and B=.14, t=3.25, p=0.5). Conclusively, since negative attitudes and low vaccine acceptability pose great danger to public health, the researchers suggest proper health-reorientation by various health agencies and ministries in collaboration with psychologists across Africa to avert impending pandemics and psychological challenges.


Keywords

COVID-19, Pandemic, Vaccines, Attitudes, Africa, Hesitancy.