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. 2022 Nov 23;12(11):e058028.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058028.

Perspectives on the COVID-19 vaccine uptake: a qualitative study of community members and health workers in Zambia

Cephas Sialubanje  1 , Nawa Mukumbuta  2   3 , Mary Ng'andu  4 , Ernest Malangizo Sumani  3 , Mpala Nkonkomalimba  3   5 , Daniel Em Lyatumba  3 , Alick Mwale  3 , Francis Mpiana  3 , Joseph Makadani Zulu  3 , Basil Mweempwa  6 , Denise Endres  6 , Maurice Mbolela  5 , Mpatanji Namumba  5 , Wolff-Christian Peters  6
Affiliations

Perspectives on the COVID-19 vaccine uptake: a qualitative study of community members and health workers in Zambia

Cephas Sialubanje et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objective: Since introduction of the programme in April 2021, COVID-19 vaccine uptake has been low at less than 20%. This study explored community members' and health workers' perspectives on the COVID-19 vaccine uptake and its influencing factors in Zambia.

Study design: A qualitative study employing focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs).

Study setting: Sixteen primary healthcare facilities selected from Lusaka, Copperbelt, Central and Southern provinces.

Participants: A total of 32 FGDs comprising local community members and 30 IDIs including health workers, traditional, religious and civic leaders (n=272). FGDs were separated based on age (youth and adults), sex (male and female) and place of residence (urban and rural).

Results: Both FGD and IDI participants agreed that vaccine uptake was low. Limited knowledge, access to information, myths and misconceptions, negative attitude, low-risk perception and supply in remote areas affected vaccine uptake. Overall, FGD participants expressed limited knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine compared with health workers. Further, FGD participants from urban sites were more aware about the vaccine than those from rural areas. Health workers perceived the vaccine to be beneficial; the benefits included prevention of infection and limiting the severity of the disease. Moreover, FGD participants from urban sites expressed a negative attitude towards the vaccine. They believed the vaccine conferred no benefits. By contrast, participants from rural communities had mixed views; they needed more information about the vaccine benefits. Participants' attitude seems to have been influenced by personal or family experience with the COVID-19 disease or vaccination; those who had experienced the disease had a more positive attitude. In contrast, most young people believed they were not at risk of the COVID-19 disease. Misinformation from social media influenced their attitude.

Conclusion: These results provide starting points for future policies and interventions for increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

Keywords: COVID-19; primary care; public health; qualitative research.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

References

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