Acceptance of the coronavirus disease-2019 vaccine among medical students in Uganda

Tropical Medicine and Health - Tập 49 Số 1 - 2021
Andrew Marvin Kanyike1, Ronald Olum2, Jonathan Kajjimu3, Daniel Ojilong1, Gabriel Madut Akech1, Dianah Rhoda Nassozi4, Drake Agira5, Nicholas Kisaakye Wamala6, Asaph Asiimwe7, Dissan Matovu8, Ann Babra Nakimuli9, Musilim Lyavala10, Patricia Kulwenza10, Joshua Kiwumulo11, Felix Bongomin12
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Busitema University, Mbale, Uganda
2School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
3Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
4School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
5School of Medicine, Kabale University, Kabale, Uganda
6Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry, Kampala International University, Ishaka-, Bushenyi, Uganda
7School of Health Sciences, Soroti University, Soroti, Uganda
8Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, King Ceaser University, Kampala, Uganda
9School of Health Sciences, Uganda Christian University, Mukono, Uganda
10Faculty of Medicine, Islamic University in Uganda, Mbale, Uganda
11Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda
12Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda

Tóm tắt

Abstract Background COVID-19 is still a major global threat for which vaccination remains the ultimate solution. Uganda reported 40,751 cases and 335 deaths as of 9 April 2021 and started its vaccination program among priority groups like health workers, teachers, those with chronic diseases among others in early March 2021. Unanimous uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine is required to subsequently avert its spread; therefore, we assessed COVID-19 vaccine acceptability, hesitancy, and associated factors among medical students in Uganda. Methods This study employed an online descriptive cross-sectional survey among medical students across 10 medical schools in Uganda. A structured questionnaire via Google Form was conveniently sent to eligible participants via WhatsApp. Each medical school had a coordinator who consistently shared the data tool in the WhatsApp groups. Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test, and logistic regression were used to assess the association between vaccine acceptability with demographics, COVID-19 risk perception, and vaccine hesitancy. Results We surveyed 600 medical students, 377 (62.8%) were male. COVID-19 vaccine acceptability was 37.3% and vaccine hesitancy 30.7%. Factors associated with vaccine acceptability were being male (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.9, 95% CI 1.3–2.9, p=0.001) and being single (aOR= 2.1, 95% CI 1.1–3.9, p=0.022). Very high (aOR= 3.5, 95% CI 1.7–6.9, p<0.001) or moderate (aOR =2.2, 95% CI 1.2–4.1, p=0.008) perceived risk of getting COVID-19 in the future, receiving any vaccine in the past 5 years (aOR= 1.6, 95% CI 1.1–2.5, p=0.017), and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (aOR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4–0.9, p=0.036). Conclusions This study revealed low levels of acceptance towards the COVID-19 vaccine among medical students, low self-perceived risks of COVID-19, and many had relied on social media that provided them with negative information. This poses an evident risk on the battle towards COVID-19 in the future especially when these future health professions are expected to be influencing decisions of the general public towards the same.

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Tropical Medicine and Health

Tập 49 Số 1

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