Pediatric Health, Medicine and Therapeutics (Apr 2023)
Parents’ Readiness to Vaccinate Their Children Aged 5 to 17 Years Against Covid-19 and Its Associated Factors in Lira District, Uganda
Abstract
Sean Steven Puleh,1 Eustes Kigongo,2 Innocent Ojok Opio,1 Stella Immaculate Akech,1 Marc Sam Opollo,3 Everlyne Achan,3 Joy Acen,4 Maxson Kenneth Anyolitho,3 Walter Acup,5 Amir Kabunga6 1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Lira University, Lira City, Uganda; 2Department of Environmental Health and Disease Control, Lira University, Lira City, Uganda; 3Department of Community Health, Lira University, Lira City, Uganda; 4Department of Midwifery, Lira University, Lira City, Uganda; 5Department of Public Health, Gulu University, Gulu City, Uganda; 6Department of Psychiatry, Lira University, Lira City, UgandaCorrespondence: Eustes Kigongo, Department of Environmental Health and Disease Control, Lira University, P.O Box 1035, Lira City, Uganda, Tel +256770681031, Email [email protected]: Data on parents’ readiness to vaccinate their children aged 5 to 17 years against COVID-19 is still scarce. This study assessed parents’ readiness to vaccinate their children aged 5 to 17 years against COVID-19 and factors associated in Lira district, Uganda.Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional survey employing quantitative methods was conducted between October and November 2022 among 578 parents of children aged 5– 17 years in 3 sub-counties in Lira district. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics including means, percentages, frequencies, and odds ratios. Logistic regression was used to determine associations between the factors and the readiness of parents at a 95% level of significance.Results: Out of 634 participants, 578 responded to the questionnaire, giving a response rate of 91.2%. The majority of the parents (327, 56.8%) were female, had children aged between 12 and 15 years (266, 46.4%), and had completed primary education (351, 60.9%). Most of the parents were Christian (565, 98.4%), married (499, 86.6%), and had been vaccinated against COVID-19 (535, 92.6%). Results also indicated that 75.6% (ranging from 71.9% to 78.9%) of the parents were unwilling to vaccinate their children for the COVID-19 virus. The predictors of readiness were the age of the child (AOR: 2.02; 95% CI: 0.97– 4.20; p=0.05) and lack of trust in the vaccine (AOR: 3.33; 95% CI: 1.95– 5.71; p0.001).Conclusion: Our study shows that parents’ readiness to vaccinate their children aged 5 to 17 years was only 24.6%, which is suboptimal. The predictors of hesitancy were the age of the child and a lack of trust in the vaccine. Based on our results, the Ugandan authorities should provide health education interventions targeting parents to combat mistrust with respect to COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine and highlight the benefits of the vaccines.Keywords: children, minors, hesitancy, readiness, vaccination
