The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the sub-Saharan adolescent population PLOSGPH GeorgeMasonU UniIbadan Harvard COVID19 coronavirus covid vaccine
By Tarun Sai LomteOct 12 2022Reviewed by Danielle Ellis, B.Sc. In a recent study published in PLOS Global Public Health, researchers examined the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine hesitancy in the sub-Saharan adolescent population.
About the study In the present study, researchers surveyed the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among adolescents from five countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Computer-assisted telephonic interviews were conducted using a novel mobile platform. In a previous survey round, one urban and a rural area from Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria were included. In the current survey round, two rural areas from Tanzania and Ghana and one urban area from Tanzania were included.
Related StoriesPotential determinants were age, country, sex, rural residence, perceived safety and effectiveness of vaccines, the impact of the pandemic on daily activities, psychological distress levels, and perceived risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure, among others. Prevalence ratios were computed using log-binomial models. In unadjusted models, crude associations were estimated between vaccine hesitancy and potential determinants.
Overall, there were 88% vaccine hesitant adolescents in Dodoma, 76% in Dar es Salaam , 65% in Lagos , 48% in Kintampo , 37% in Addis Ababa , 32% in Ouagadougou , and 14% in Kersa. Low necessity and concerns about the safety and efficacy of vaccines were reasons cited for vaccine hesitancy.