. 2023 Jan 28;23(1):191.

doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-15116-w.

Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among sub-Saharan Africans (SSA): a comparative study of residents and diasporan dwellers

Chundung Asabe Miner¹, Chikasirimobi G Timothy², Khathutshelo Percy, Mashige³, Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu^{4

5

6}, Esther Awazzi Envuladu⁷, Onyekachukwu Mary-Anne Amiebenomo^{8

9}, Godwin Ovenseri-Ogbomo^{3

10}, Deborah Donald Charwe¹¹, Piwuna Christopher Goson¹², Bernadine N Ekpenyong^{3

13}, Emmanuel Kwasi Abu¹⁴, Raymond Langsi¹⁵, Richard Oloruntoba¹⁶, Tanko Ishaya¹⁷, Kingsley E Agho^{3

18

19}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
² Department of Optometry, Mzuzu University, Mzuzu, Malawi.
³ African Vision Research Institute (AVRI), School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
⁴ African Vision Research Institute (AVRI), School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. l.osuagwu@westernsydney.edu.au.
⁵ Bathurst Rural Clinical School, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Bathurst, NSW, 2795, Australia. l.osuagwu@westernsydney.edu.au.
⁶ Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, 2506, New South Wales, Australia. l.osuagwu@westernsydney.edu.au.
⁷ Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
⁸ School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, College of Biomedical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
⁹ Department of Optometry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Ugbowo, Nigeria.
¹⁰ Department of Optometry, Centre for Health Sciences, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness, UK.
¹¹ Tanzania Food and Nutrition Center, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania.
¹² Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
¹³ Department of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Calabar, Nigeria.
¹⁴ Department of Optometry and Vision Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
¹⁵ Health Division, University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon.
¹⁶ School of Management and Marketing, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia.
¹⁷ Department of Computer Science, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
¹⁸ Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, 2506, New South Wales, Australia.
¹⁹ School of Health Science, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, Australia.

PMID: 36709269
PMCID: PMC9884132
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15116-w

Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among sub-Saharan Africans (SSA): a comparative study of residents and diasporan dwellers

Chundung Asabe Miner et al. BMC Public Health. 2023.

. 2023 Jan 28;23(1):191.

doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-15116-w.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
² Department of Optometry, Mzuzu University, Mzuzu, Malawi.
³ African Vision Research Institute (AVRI), School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
⁴ African Vision Research Institute (AVRI), School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. l.osuagwu@westernsydney.edu.au.
⁵ Bathurst Rural Clinical School, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Bathurst, NSW, 2795, Australia. l.osuagwu@westernsydney.edu.au.
⁶ Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, 2506, New South Wales, Australia. l.osuagwu@westernsydney.edu.au.
⁷ Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
⁸ School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, College of Biomedical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
⁹ Department of Optometry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Ugbowo, Nigeria.
¹⁰ Department of Optometry, Centre for Health Sciences, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness, UK.
¹¹ Tanzania Food and Nutrition Center, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania.
¹² Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
¹³ Department of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Calabar, Nigeria.
¹⁴ Department of Optometry and Vision Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
¹⁵ Health Division, University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon.
¹⁶ School of Management and Marketing, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia.
¹⁷ Department of Computer Science, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
¹⁸ Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, 2506, New South Wales, Australia.
¹⁹ School of Health Science, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, Australia.

PMID: 36709269
PMCID: PMC9884132
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15116-w

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out across all the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, with countries setting targets for achieving full vaccination rates. The aim of this study was to compare the uptake of, resistance and hesitancy to the COVID-19 vaccine between SSA locally residents and in the diasporan dwellers.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted using a web and paper-based questionnaire to obtain relevant information on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. The survey items included questions on demography, uptake and planned acceptance or non-acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines among SSAs. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine probabilities of outcomes for factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination resistance and hesitancy among SSA respondents residing within and outside Africa.

Results: Uptake of COVID-19 vaccines varied among the local (14.2%) and diasporan (25.3%) dwellers. There were more locals (68.1%) who were resistant to COVID-19 vaccine. Participants' sex [adjusted relative risk (ARR) = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.58 - 0.93], education [primary/less: ARR = 0.22, CI:0.12 - 0.40, and bachelor's degree: ARR = 0.58, CI: 0.43 - 0.77]), occupation [ARR = 0.32, CI: 0.25-0.40] and working status [ARR = 1.40, CI: 1.06-1.84] were associated with COVID-19 vaccine resistance among locals. Similar proportion of local and diasporan dwellers (~ 18% each) were hesitant to COVID-19 vaccine, and this was higher among health care workers [ARR = 0.25, CI: 0.10 - 0.62 and ARR = 0.24, CI:0.18-0.32, diaspora and locals respectively]. After adjusting for the potential confounders, local residents aged 29-38 years [ARR = 1.89, CI: 1.26-2.84] and lived in East Africa [ARR = 4.64, CI: 1.84-11.70] were more likely to report vaccine hesitancy. Knowledge of COVID vaccines was associated with hesitancy among local and diasporan dwellers, but perception was associated with vaccine resistance [ARR = 0.86,CI: 0.82 - 0.90] and hesitancy [ARR = 0.85, CI: 0.80 - 0.90], only among the local residents.

Conclusions: Differences exist in the factors that influence COVID-19 vaccine acceptance between local SSA residents and thediasporan dwellers. Knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines affects the uptake, resistance, and hesitancy to the COVID-19 vaccine. Information campaigns focusing on the efficacy and safety of vaccines could lead to improved acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines.

Keywords: Acceptance; COVID-19; Diaspora; Hesitancy; Locals; Resistance; Sub-Sahara Africa; Vaccination.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that we have no competing interst.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Prevalence and 95% confidence intervals of vaccine uptake, resistance and hesitancy among SSAs living in (within) and outside of Africa (diaspora)

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among sub-Saharan Africans (SSA): a comparative study of residents and diasporan dwellers

Affiliations

Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among sub-Saharan Africans (SSA): a comparative study of residents and diasporan dwellers

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical

Research Materials