COVID-19 Vaccine Knowledge and Acceptability among Healthcare Providers in Nigeria
Onyeka Chukwudalu Ekwebene
*
Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Valentine Chidi Obidile
Centre for Integrated Health Program, Abuja, Nigeria.
Precious Chidozie Azubuike
Department of Public Health, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria.
Chioma Phyllis Nnamani
Department of Family Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Nehemiah Emono Dankano
First Referral Hospital Mutum Biyu, Taraba Stae, Nigeria.
Michel Chiedu Egbuniwe
Nursing Services Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has posed enormous challenges and has become a burden of morbidity and mortality while severely disrupting economic activities around the world. Vaccines for the disease has been discovered; however, there exists misconceptions and mistrusts among health workers which may constitute barriers to Covid-19 uptake.
Aim: The study aimed to determine the knowledge and acceptability of the Covid-19 vaccine among health care provider and to determine the association between the socio-demographic variables and Covid-19 acceptability.
Study Design: A snowball sampling technique was relied upon in the distribution of the questionnaires.
Place and Duration: Online questionnaires sent in the form of a link through social media outlets such as Whatsapp, Facebook and emails within four weeks interval.
Methodology: Health care providers in Nigeria aged 18 years and above participated in this study.The analysis was performed using the Statistical Software Package SPSS version 22.0.Four hundred and forty-five respondents filled the questionnaire from the six geopolitical zones of the country.
Results: There was a good knowledge of the Covid-19 vaccination as 411(92.4%) knew about the vaccine. However, only 53.5% of respondents were willing to get vaccinated against the disease. The most identified perceived barrier to covid-19 vaccine acceptance was fear of side effects 309 (69.4%) and there was no association between socio-demographic characteristics and covid-19 vaccine acceptability.
Conclusion: Healthcare providers recommendation and confidence in a vaccine plays an influential role in their patients’ vaccination behaviour. They serve as an important source of information for the general populace and their consultation can also be a key factor in patients’ decision to get vaccinated or not.
Keywords: Acceptability, health care providers, hesitancy, knowledge, vaccine