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Assessment of Factors Influencing the Uptake of Covid-19 Vaccine among People Living in Ishaka, Bushenyi District in Uganda

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The study aimed at investigating the factors influencing the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among people in Ishaka, Bushenyi District in Uganda. Understanding the factors that influenced the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines is of great help in creating strategies to increase vaccine coverage in order to rapidly bring the pandemic to an end. A quantitative cross section study approach was conducted, sample size was 317 participants. Data was collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and the data analyzed using SPPS. The analyzed data was then presented in form of tables and graphs. According to the study majority of the participants 67.8% were males and minority 31.2% were females. Most of them 34.1% aged between 31-40 years with 52.5% not married. Most 40.7% had attained secondary, 35.6% tertiary and 23.7% primary level. Majority 74.1% were Christians, 22.7% Muslim while minorities 3.2% were pagans. Most participants 31.5%were business men, 25.9% working in the private sector, 19.2% students, and 14.2% civil servants while 6%were unemployed. 166. 80.1% live in an urban area. Of the participants earn less than one million a month, 25.2% no monthly salary, 9.5% earn between one million and two million while minority 4.7% were earning more than two million. It was found that 99.7% participants knew about covid-19 while only 0.3% did not know. It was found that 74.4% of the participants had not been vaccinated while 25.9% had been vaccinated. Those who were not vaccinated, only 27.7% were willing to get vaccinated and 72.3% were not willing to get vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccination rate among people in Ishaka Bushenyi was low despite most people having the knowledge about Covid-19 vaccine and good attitude towards covid-19 vaccine. There uptake of the vaccine remained low with most people fearing the side effects of the vaccine.
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Mukwaya
INOSR Experimental Sciences 11(3):39-46, 2023.
©INOSR PUBLICATIONS
International Network Organization for Scientific Research ISSN: 2705-1692
Assessment of Factors Influencing the Uptake of Covid-19 Vaccine among
People Living in Ishaka, Bushenyi District in Uganda
Mukwaya, Apollo Nicholas
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Kampala International University, Uganda.
ABSTRACT
The study aimed at investigating the factors influencing the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among
people in Ishaka, Bushenyi District in Uganda. Understanding the factors that influenced the
uptake of COVID-19 vaccines is of great help in creating strategies to increase vaccine coverage
in order to rapidly bring the pandemic to an end. A quantitative cross section study approach
was conducted, sample size was 317 participants. Data was collected using an interviewer-
administered questionnaire and the data analyzed using SPPS. The analyzed data was then
presented in form of tables and graphs. According to the study majority of the participants
67.8% were males and minority 31.2% were females. Most of them 34.1% aged between 31-40
years with 52.5% not married. Most 40.7% had attained secondary, 35.6% tertiary and 23.7%
primary level. Majority 74.1% were Christians, 22.7% Muslim while minorities 3.2% were pagans.
Most participants 31.5%were business men, 25.9% working in the private sector, 19.2% students,
and 14.2% civil servants while 6%were unemployed. 166. 80.1% live in an urban area. Of the
participants earn less than one million a month, 25.2% no monthly salary, 9.5% earn between
one million and two million while minority 4.7% were earning more than two million. It was
found that 99.7% participants knew about covid-19 while only 0.3% did not know. It was found
that 74.4% of the participants had not been vaccinated while 25.9% had been vaccinated. Those
who were not vaccinated, only 27.7% were willing to get vaccinated and 72.3% were not willing
to get vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccination rate among people in Ishaka Bushenyi was low
despite most people having the knowledge about Covid-19 vaccine and good attitude towards
covid-19 vaccine. There uptake of the vaccine remained low with most people fearing the side
effects of the vaccine.
Keywords: Covid-19, Vaccine, Ishaka, Bushenyi District and Uganda.
INTRODUCTION
Corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is
an emerging public health problem
threatening the life of over 2.4 million
people globally [1-7]. The WHO identified
this severe form of pneumonia caused by a
new corona virus leading to severe acute
respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-
CoV-2) on 31 December 2019 in Wuhan,
China [8-11]. On March 26, 2020, it was
declared as a pandemic disease [12-15].
Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is
the disease of the respiratory tract caused
by the severe acute respiratory syndrome
corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [16-20]. COVID
19 disease is said to be mainly transmitted
through contact with respiratory droplets
produced by an infected person and its
clinical manifestations range from
asymptomatic cases and mild upper airway
infection, up to severe and fatal cases with
pneumonia and acute respiratory failure
[21-25].
Globally, the new Corona virus has infected
close to 132 million people with more than
2.8 million deaths as of April 7, 2021. In the
United States alone, the number of COVID-
19 cases surpassed 30.5 million with more
than 552,000 deaths. The infections and
associated morbidity and mortality
continue to increase worldwide with
intermittent flare ups even in countries that
were assumed to have brought it under
control [26]. Currently, the WHO reports
that COVID-19 deaths in Africa have surged
by 40% ever since the virus was reported on
the continent on 14 February 2020. This
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surge comes as Africa is battling new and
more contagious variants for which it has
geared up its largest-ever vaccination drive
[27-29]. Uganda launched its mass COVID-19
vaccination program on 10th/03/2021
thereby joining a host of countries in Africa
to initiate jab inoculations. According to the
Ministry of Health, Uganda aims at
vaccinating at least 49.6% of its population
(21,936,011) with Oxford University
AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at different
phases [27].
METHODOLOGY
Study design
A quantitative cross section study approach
was conducted in order to assess the socio-
demographic factors regarding the uptake
of COVID-19 vaccine among people living in
Ishaka, Bushenyi District
Study Site
The study was conducted in Ishaka town,
Bushenyi-Ishaka municipality, in Bushenyi
district. Study population
The study was conducted among people
living in Ishaka, Bushenyi District
Inclusion criteria
It included people living in Ishaka, Bushenyi
District that were available at the time of
collecting data and willing to participate in
the study.
Exclusion criteria
Those who decline to participate in the
study.
Sample size determination
The sample size was to be determined using
the Kish Leslies formula (1965)
n= (Za/2)2p(1-p)
e2
n=317 people
Where n is the required sample size, p is
the approximate number of people living
in Ishaka, Bushenyi District, and e is the
permissible error in the estimate
Sampling procedure
A simple random and purposive sampling
technique was used to choose respondents
to participate in the study, from whom the
data was collected.
Data collection method and tools
Data was collected using an interviewer-
administered questionnaire which was
adopted from Bono et al., (2021), and
adjusted to fit this study. The researcher
met with the targeted respondents that
participated in the study, after obtaining
permission for data collection from
respondents. Each participant was required
to give an informed consent before enrolling
in the study. The researcher assisted the
respondents in filling the questionnaires by
explaining to the respondents for
clarifications. The properly filled
questionnaires were then collected and then
data taken for analysis. The researcher used
structured questionnaires and participants
were asked similar questions and from
options, they picked the best alternative. A
pen and paper was used to record the
necessary information.
Data analysis
The qualitative data collected was
statistically analyzed and documented
using SPSS v.16. The analyzed data was then
presented in form of tables and graphs as
shown in chapter four, discussed as in
chapter five and conclusion made.
Ethical considerations Consent
Informed consent was sought from
Participants regarding the research. Each
participants choice
to participate or not was respected and data
collected from participants was kept
confidential.
RESULTS
In this study majority of the participants
215(67.8%) were males and minority
102(31.2%) were females. Most of them
108(34.1%) aged between 31-40 years,
80(25.2%) aged between 21-30 years,
52(16.4%) 41-50 years, 40(12.6%) 18-20
years, 27(8.5%) 51-60 years and 10(3.2%) 61-
70 years old.
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Table 1 showing the age range of the participants
Frequency
Percentage
18-20 years
40
12.6%
21-30 years
80
25.2%
31-40 years
108
34.1%
41-50 years
52
16.4%
51-60 years
27
8.5%
61-70 years
10
3.2%
Most 129(40.7%) had attained secondary,
113(35.6%) tertiary and 75(23.7%) primary
level. Majority 235(74.1%) were Christians,
72(22.7%) Muslim while minorities 10(3.2%)
were pagans. Most participants 100(31.5%)
were business men, 82(25.9%) working in
the private sector, 61(19.2%) students,
45(14.2%) civil servants while 19(6%) were
unemployed. 166(52.5%) were not married
while 151(47.6%) were married while.
254(80.1%) live in an urban area while
63(19.9%) live in a rural setting. Majority
192(60.6%) of the participants earn less than
one million a month, 80(25.2%) no monthly
salary, 30(9.5%) earn between one million
and two million while minority 15(4.7%)
were earning more than two million.
Table 2: showing the socio-demographics of participants
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE
Male
215
67.8%
Female
102
31.2%
Primary
75
23.7%
Secondary
129
40.7%
Tertiary
113
35.6%
Business person
100
31.5%
Civil servants
45
14.2%
Private sector
82
25.9%
Retired persons
10
3.2%
Still a student
61
19.2%
Unemployed
19
6%
Christian
235
74.1%
Muslim
72
22.7%
Pagan
10
3.2%
Married
151
47.6%
Not married
166
52.5%
Monthly income
1million to 2 million
30
9.5%
Less than 1 million
192
60.6%
More than 2 million
15
4.7%
No monthly salary
80
25.2%
Rural
63
19.9%
Urban
254
80.1%
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It was found that 316 (99.7%) participants
knew about covid-19 while only 1(0.3%) did
not know, as in table 2 below.
Table 3: showing the knowledge of participants on covid-19 vaccine
Frequency
Percentage
Have heard about covid-19 vaccine
Yes
316
99.7%
No
1
0.3%
Can one be re-infected after recovering from COVID-19 infection?
Yes
187
60.0%
No
130
40.0%
COVID-19 can be prevented by vaccine
Yes
254
80.1%
No
63
19.9%
There is currently an effective vaccine against COVID-19
Yes
299
94.3%
No
18
5.7%
It was also found that 187(60.0%) thought
one can get re-infected while 130(40.0%)
thought re- infection is impossible. It was
also found that 254(80.1%) Participants
believed that covid-19 can be prevented
through vaccination while 63(19.9%)
thought it cannot be prevented.
It was also found that 299(94.3%) believed
that there is an effective vaccine against
covid-19 while 18(5.7%) believed there
wasnt any effective vaccine.
It was found that 235(74.4%) of the
participants had not been vaccinated while
82(25.9%) had not been vaccinated. Those
who were not vaccinated, only 65(27.7) %
were willing to get vaccinated and
170(72.3%) were not willing to get
vaccinated.
Table 4: showing the uptake and attitude on the covid-19 vaccine
Frequency
Percentages
Have you ever been vaccinated
Yes
82
25.9%
No
235
74.4%
TOTAL
317
100%
If you answered “No” above, are you willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19?
Yes
65
27.7%
No
170
72.3%
TOTAL
235
100%
If you answered No” above, what are the possible reasons for refusing to take the
COVID-
19 vaccine
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I dont think COVID-19 exists
1
0.6%
I think the vaccine is not effective
18
10.6%
I think the vaccine is designed to harm us
32
18.8%
I am scared of side-effects of the vaccine
69
40.6%
My body is naturally strong, I dont need
a
vaccine to fight COVID-19
15
8.8%
I already had COVID-19, so I think I am immune
to the disease
21
12.4%
The COVID-19 pandemic is finished in my
country, no need for a vaccine now
14
8.2%
TOTAL
170
100%
COVID 19 vaccine is Importance to protect oneself from infection
Disagree
45
14.2%
Neutral
15
4.7%
Agree
257
81.1%
TOTAL
317
100%
COVID 19 vaccine is Importance to protect others from infection
Disagree
67
21.1%
Neutral
10
3.2%
Agree
240
75.7%
TOTAL
317
100%
According to the study, the reason for
vaccine refusal differed among individuals
with 69(40.6%) individuals fearing side
effects, 32(18.8%) thinking that the vaccine
would it cause harm, 21(12.4%) had already
suffered from COVID-19,18(10.6) had it in
mind that the vaccine is not effective,
15(8.8%) had strong immunity, 14(8.2%)
believed that the pandemic had ended and
1(0.6%) had it in mind that COVID-19 never
existed. Participants were also evaluated on
their thought about covid-19 vaccine ability
to protect oneself, it was found that
257(81.1%) agreed, 15(4.7%) were neutral
and 45(14.2%) disagreed. The study also
evaluated on thought about the ability of the
covid-19 vaccine weather other people from
infection and it was found that 240(75.7%)
agreed, 10(3.2%) neutral and 67(21.1%)
disagreed with this statement According to
this study, the participants who believed of
having immunity, feared side effects were
less likely to take up the covid-19 vaccine.
DISCUSSION
According to the study it was found that
74.4% of the participants had not been
vaccinated while 25.9% had been vaccinated
this is not in line with the national statistics
that showed that 45% of people in Uganda
have received at least one vaccine dose, and
33% are fully vaccinated.
In this study majority of the participants
67.8% were males and minority 31.2% were
females. This is in line with Most of them
34.1% aged between 31-40 years, this is not
in line with the study aimed at determining
socio-demographic factors associated with
acceptance of vaccines and clinical trials of
COVID-19 in western Uganda, the
acceptance rate for COVID-19 vaccination
where most participants were aged 1820
years 25.2%aged between 21-30 years
however most participants in this study
were male that concurs with this study.
Most 40.7% had attained secondary, 35.6%
tertiary and 23.7% primary level this may be
because this research was carried out in
town. Most participants 31.5% were
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44
business men, 25.9% working in the private
sector, 19.2% students, and 14.2% civil
servants while 6% were unemployed. 52.5%
were not married while 47.6% were married
while. 80.1% live in an urban area while
19.9% live in a rural setting.
According to this study, only 27.7% were
willing to get vaccinated this concurs with
the findings in the study in Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) in which doctors
had a low (27.7%) acceptability for COVID-19
vaccines despite the study being done
among doctors. however, this was not in line
with the study done by Viswanath et al. [26],
where about 65 68% of the sample in their
study was willing to get a vaccine for
themselves or children this difference may
be because of population size in which the
research was conducted plus the sampling
technique used. And neither does it agree
with research done by Bongomin et al. [30]
where 70.1%) participants were willing to
accept the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to this study, the participants
who believed of having immunity were less
likely to take up the covid-19 vaccine, this
concurs with the study were participants
who agreed or strongly believed that they
have some immunity against COVID-19 were
also significantly less likely to accept the
vaccine, Bongomin et al. [30]
African countries (Democratic Republic of
Congo, Benin, Uganda, Malawi, and Mali) had
lower acceptance odds compared to Brazil.
Individuals who perceived taking the
vaccine as important to protect themselves
had the highest acceptance odds at 95%
effectiveness [31] this was in line with the
findings of this study
According to this study, the reason for
vaccine refusal differed among individuals
with the most 40.6% individuals fearing side
effects, this agrees with the study that the
main reasons underpinning vaccine refusal
were fear of side effects (41.2%) and lack of
confidence in vaccine effectiveness (15.1%)
[31-32].
CONCLUSION
Very few People living in Ishaka Bushenyi
district have been vaccinated against
COVID-19. Most people also have the
knowledge about Ccovid-19 vaccine and
good attitude toward covid- 19 vaccine.
Despite the knowledge people of Ishaka
have about the COVID-19 Vaccine, there
uptake of the vaccine has remained low with
most people fearing the side effects of the
vaccine.
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