BMJ Open (Dec 2023)

Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors among healthcare workers in Katsina state: a cross-sectional study in Northwest Nigeria

  • Kabir Suleiman,
  • Ahmed Tijani Abubakar,
  • Suleiman Idris Ahmad,
  • Shamsuddeen Suleiman Yahaya,
  • Umar Ibrahim Bello,
  • Bello Abdullahi Suleiman,
  • Suleiman Ahmed Haladu,
  • Ahmad Ibrahim Al-Mustapha,
  • Musa Imam Abubakar

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063281
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 12

Abstract

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Objectives Healthcare workers were prioritised to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria. Administration of COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria was challenging because of a lack of trust in vaccine safety and vaccine effectiveness among healthcare workers, who are expected to provide reliable information about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases in the communities. Hence, their acceptance and attitudes towards COVID-19 preventive practices could influence the acceptance of the vaccine by the local population. This cross-sectional study assessed the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers in Katsina State. We predicted the variables that increased the vaccine acceptance using logistic regression analysis.Setting This hospital-based study was conducted at primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities in Nigeria.Participants A total of 793 healthcare workers were included in this study. Of these, 65.4% (n=519) were male.Outcome measures To assess acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine measures, and factors increasing acceptance among healthcare workers.Results Of the healthcare workers, 80% (638) were tested for the SARS-CoV-2, of whom 10.8% (n=65) tested positive. Approximately 97% (n=765) of them believed that the COVID-19 vaccine was safe, and 90% (n=714) received the first dose of the vaccine. Healthcare workers between 30 and 39 years were more likely to accept the vaccine (aOR: 7.06; 95% CI 2.36 to 21.07; p<0.001). Those who had been tested for COVID-19 were more likely (aOR:7.64; 95% CI 3.62 to 16.16; p<0.001) to accept the vaccine.Conclusions Our findings showed that the age and prior COVID-19 testing were the main factors influencing the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. There was high acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers in Katsina State, Nigeria. Future studies should focus on the completion of doses and serological testing for immunity.