Perceptions and predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare providers across five countries in sub-Saharan Africa

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003956
• Publication Date: 2025-02-21T18:44:01Z
• Authors: Isabel Madzorera; Livesy Naafoe Abokyi; Edward Apraku; Temesgen Azemraw; Valentin Boudo; Christabel James; Dongqing Wang; Frank Mapendo; Ourohiré Millogo; Nega Assefa; Angela Chukwu; Firehiwot Workneh; Bruno Lankoande; Elena C. Hemler; Abbas Ismail; Sulemana Abubakari; Kwaku Poku Asante; Yemane Berhane; Japhet Killewo; Ayoade Oduola; Ali Sie; Abdramane Soura; Mary Mwanyika-Sando; Said Vuai; Emily Smith; Till Baernighausen; Raji Tajudeen; Wafaie W. Fawzi
• Keywords: Cross-sectional study

The African continent has some of the world’s lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates. While limited availability vaccines is a contributing factor, vaccine hesitancy among healthcare providers (HCP) another factor that could adversely affect efforts to control infections on continent. We sought understand extent HCP, and its factors in Africa. evaluated 1,499 HCP enrolled cross-sectional study conducted as telephone survey Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana between July December 2021. defined self-reported responses definitely not, maybe, unsure, or undecided whether get vaccine, compared getting vaccine. used log-binomial modified Poisson regression models evaluate influencing HCP. Approximately 65.6% interviewed were nurses mean age (±SD) participants was 35.8 (±9.7) years. At least 67% reported being vaccinated. affected 45.7% 25.7% 9.8% 9% 8.1% Nigeria. Among unvaccinated reasons for low uptake included concern about effectiveness, side effects, fear receiving experimental unsafe vaccines. reporting are very effective (RR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.55), older (45 vs.20–29 years, RR: 0.65, 0.44, 0.95) less likely be vaccine-hesitant. Nurses more vaccine-hesitant (RR 1.38, 1.01, 1.89) than doctors. Information asymmetry beliefs endorsement by public health institutions may important. Efforts address should consider information knowledge gaps different cadres alongside increase supply.