Analysis of Perception, Reasons, and Motivations for COVID-19 Vaccination in People with Diabetes across Sub-Saharan Africa: A Mixed-Method Approach

Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu, Raymond Langsi, Godwin Ovenseri-Ogbomo, Khathutshelo Percy Mashige, Emmanuel Kwasi Abu, Esther Awazzi Envuladu, Piwuna Christopher Goson, Bernadine Nsa Ekpenyong, Richard Oloruntoba, Chundung Asabe Miner, Deborah Donald Charwe, Chikasirimobi Goodhope Timothy, Tanko Ishaya, Onyekachukwu Mary-Anne Amiebenomo, David Lim and Kingsley E. Agho
Additional contact information
Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu: Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2560, Australia
Raymond Langsi: Health Division, University of Bamenda, Bambili P.O. Box 39, Bamenda, Cameroon
Godwin Ovenseri-Ogbomo: Department of Optometry, Centre for Health Sciences, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness IV2 3JH, UK
Khathutshelo Percy Mashige: African Vision Research Institute (AVRI), Discipline of Optometry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban 3629, South Africa
Emmanuel Kwasi Abu: Department of Optometry and Vision Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast 03321, Ghana
Esther Awazzi Envuladu: Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos 930001, Nigeria
Piwuna Christopher Goson: Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos 930001, Nigeria
Bernadine Nsa Ekpenyong: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar 540271, Nigeria
Richard Oloruntoba: School of Management and Marketing, Curtin Business School Bentley, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
Chundung Asabe Miner: Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos 930001, Nigeria
Deborah Donald Charwe: Tanzania Food and Nutrition Center, Dar-es-Salaam P.O. Box 977, Tanzania
Chikasirimobi Goodhope Timothy: Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Mzuzu University, Mzuzu 105200, Malawi
Tanko Ishaya: Department of Computer Science, University of Jos, Jos 930001, Nigeria
Onyekachukwu Mary-Anne Amiebenomo: Department of Optometry, University of Benin, Benin 300213, Nigeria
David Lim: Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2560, Australia
Kingsley E. Agho: Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2560, Australia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 13, 1-16

Abstract: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with severe COVID-19 infection and complications. This study assesses COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in people with DM, and explores the reasons for not being vaccinated. This was a web-based cross-sectional survey using a mixed-method approach conducted in March–May 2021, corresponding to most Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries’ early vaccine rollout period. Participants were those aged ≥18 years with self-reported DM in 11 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Responses to comments on the reasons for vaccine hesitancy and facilitators for vaccine uptake were analyzed. Of the 73 participants with DM, 65.8% were males, older than 35 years (86.3%), had postsecondary education (90%), and a significant proportion were from South Africa (39.7%), Nigeria (28.8%) and Ghana (13.7%). At the time of this study, 64.4% experienced COVID-19 symptoms, 46.6% were tested for COVID-19, of which 19.2% tested positive. Few participants (6.8%) had received a COVID-19 vaccination, 65.8% were willing to take the vaccine when it becomes available in their country, while 26.0% either refused or remained hesitant towards taking the vaccine. The main identified reasons for not taking the vaccine were: advice from religious leaders; concerns about the safety, effects, and efficacy of the vaccines; mistrust of the pharmaceutical companies producing the vaccines and the process of production; the conspiracy theories around the vaccines; and the personal belief of the participants regarding vaccination. However, participants stated they would take the vaccine if they were more educated about it, received positive feedback from those vaccinated, were rewarded for taking the vaccine, or if vaccination became a condition for travel and employment. In conclusion, this study shows that the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine was very low in this high-risk group. Efforts to increase the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among people with diabetes are imperative, such as the provision of education and relevant information.

Keywords: diabetes; survey; Sub-Saharan Africa; coronavirus; vaccine; hesitancy; refusal; qualitative; lockdown (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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