Differences in COVID-19 Vaccination and Experiences among Patients with Hypertension in Colombia and Jamaica during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jacqueline P. Duncan (), Siyi Geng, Carene Lindsay, Trevor S. Ferguson, Katherine T. Mills, Jose Patricio Lopez-Lopez, Hua He, Paola Lanza, Allison N. Marshall, Makeda J. Williams, Veronica Tonwe, Mabel Reyes, Alfonso Campo, Patricio Lopez-Jaramillo and Marshall K. Tulloch-Reid
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Jacqueline P. Duncan: Department of Community Health and Psychiatry, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica
Siyi Geng: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Carene Lindsay: Epidemiology Research Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica
Trevor S. Ferguson: Epidemiology Research Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica
Katherine T. Mills: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Jose Patricio Lopez-Lopez: Masira Research Institute, Universidad de Santander (UDES), Bucaramanga 680003, Colombia
Hua He: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Paola Lanza: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Allison N. Marshall: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Makeda J. Williams: Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Veronica Tonwe: Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Mabel Reyes: Masira Research Institute, Universidad de Santander (UDES), Bucaramanga 680003, Colombia
Alfonso Campo: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universidad de Santander (UDES), Valledupar 200001, Colombia
Patricio Lopez-Jaramillo: Masira Research Institute, Universidad de Santander (UDES), Bucaramanga 680003, Colombia
Marshall K. Tulloch-Reid: Epidemiology Research Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 10, 1-13

Abstract: During the COVID-19 pandemic, hypertensive patients had increased infection and healthcare disruption in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with limited vaccine access. The objective of this report is to describe COVID-19 experiences and vaccination uptake among hypertensive patients in Colombia and Jamaica. A cross-sectional study of patients with hypertension was conducted in primary care clinics in both countries between 2021 and 2022. Trained interviewers used a telephone-administered questionnaire to assess COVID-19 experiences (infection, vaccination, and healthcare access). A total of 576 patients (68.5% female, mean age: 67.5 years) participated. Health service disruption affecting access to care was low (<10%). Compared to Jamaica, more participants from Colombia reported testing positive for COVID-19, having family members or friends testing positive, losing family members or friends due to COVID-19, and being vaccinated. In logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, education, and rural/urban clinic status, fear of COVID-19 (OR 2.7, 95% CI: 1.2–6.1) and residence in Colombia (OR 5.9, 95% CI: 2.4–14.6) were associated with higher vaccination uptake. Disparities in access to COVID-19 testing and diagnosis may have influenced these country differences including fear of COVID-19 and vaccine uptake. Other factors need to be better understood to prepare for future pandemic responses.

Keywords: COVID-19; vaccine hesitancy; health services; healthcare; Jamaica; Colombia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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