COVID-19 VACCINE ACCEPTANCE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN BUSIA COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

The novel coronavirus was announced a global rampant disease in March 2020. Non -pharmaceutical Interventions were imposed globally to assist in controlling the spread of the disease, which a lot of damage that impacted the health of individuals and contributed to a significant decline in the global economy. Through rigorous research, the world realized the development of effective and safe vaccines. The general public acceptance for vaccination against COVID-19 disease still remains undetermined. Health care providers have the highest susceptibility to the Corona Virus disease as they manage multiple patients on their day-to-day activities. They are integral in the acceptance of any vaccine as they instill confidence to the public in any vaccination activity. The study aimed to assess the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and its associated factors among health care providers in Busia County, Kenya. A sample size of 423 health care providers was determined using the fisher’s formula, facts were gathered using an online questionnaire whose questions were both closed and open ended. Collected data was then transferred into Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet, uploaded and was put into codes into the SPSS version 26 software for analysis and final evaluation. Simple descriptive analyses, like frequencies, mean, standard deviation, and percentages, graphs and figures were formulated for Sociodemographic aspects, the knowledge scores concerning COVID-19 vaccine, and the perceived susceptibility, benefits and barriers to the COVID-19 vaccine. Bivariate correlation was used to ascertain interdependence between variables. Where the Pvalue of <0.05 was used determined if it was statistically significant or not. The study found that 93.4% of all sampled health care providers accepted the to the COVID -19 vaccine. Independent variables including age, marital status living arrangements, type of employer and cadre were significantly associated with vaccine acceptance (p≤0.05). Health care providers who had been in contact with COVID-19 patients had higher odds of accepting the Vaccine (OR: 4.4; 95% CI: 2.3 – 8.4; p < 0.0001). Although not statistically significant, those with chronic medical conditions (86.4%) were less likely to accept the vaccine than those without (95.2%).There was significant association between healthcare providers who affirmed radio/TV (OR: 3.1; 95% CI: 1.6 – 5.9; p = 0.0003), government agencies (OR: 5.6; 95% CI: 2.8 – 11.0; p < 0.0001), healthcare providers (OR: 8.0; 95% CI: 4.0 – 15.7; p < 0.0001), print media (OR: 4.1; 95% CI: 1.9 – 8.8; p = 0.0001) very significantly influenced their opinion regarding vaccination and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines with higher odds reported for each information source. Health providers who perceived themselves as susceptible were almost 10 times more likely to have accepted vaccines (OR: 9.8; 95% CI: 4.8 – 19.8; p < 0.0001). Similarly, those who were very worried were about 5 times more likely to have accepted vaccines compared to those who were not worried (OR: 4.7; 95% CI: 2.2 – 10.1; p < 0.0001) concerns over vaccine safety and interventions to address health care providers concerns should be put in place taking into consideration the age, sex health care provider category, with hybrid interventions put in place to strengthen public education and address concerns about vaccine safety. Further studies are also suggested to be undertaken on vaccine safety and perception on susceptibility towards the disease as there is scanty information regarding the same.