1
|
Ajose A, Akinde C, Ilo A, Durojaiye T, Shittu Y, Kadiri T, Raheem B, Alamutu MK, Ojo O, Roberts AA. Nigerian parents and caregivers knowledge, attitude and willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1047285. [PMID: 37849715 PMCID: PMC10577425 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1047285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives In order to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19, a significant proportion of the population will need to be vaccinated. Experts have recommended that African children be allowed to get vaccinated to protect them from emerging variants of COVID-19 infection. This study investigated Nigerian parents and caregivers' knowledge, attitude, and willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 once the vaccines are made available to them. Methods A cross-sectional online survey of 500 parents/caregivers was conducted in Nigeria. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about their sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of and attitude toward COVID-19 infection and vaccination, willingness to vaccinate their child and factors that could influence their decision to vaccinate their child. A scoring system was used to classify the level of knowledge and attitude of participants into 2 categories, namely poor, and good. We analyzed data obtained using SPSS Version 22. Results Majority of the participants were females (63.6%). Analysis of responses revealed good knowledge and attitude in 265 (53.0%) and 266 (53.2%) respondents, respectively. Overall, less than half of the parents/caregivers (48.4%) expressed intention to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Factors associated with willingness to vaccinate children against COVID-19 included age greater than 40 years, male gender, residing in Southern Nigeria, having good knowledge, knowing an infected person or a vaccinated person, feeling they or their child is at risk of contracting COVID-19 infection, willingness to vaccinate self against COVID-19 and good attitude. Significant predictors of willingness to vaccinate their child include age greater than 40 years [AOR: 2.56; 95% CI = (1.14-5.76)], willingness to vaccinate self [AOR: 1016.81; 95% CI = (128.51-8045.60)] and good attitude [AOR: 6.21; 95% CI = (2.83-13.64)]. Conclusion This study revealed that parental willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 is low and identified factors influencing it. It is important to develop and implement health education programs iterating the risk of children getting infected with SARS-CoV-2 and its emerging variants to ensure optimal uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine in Nigerian children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Azeezat Ajose
- Research Team, The Neo Child Initiative, Lagos, Nigeria
- Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Cassandra Akinde
- Research Team, The Neo Child Initiative, Lagos, Nigeria
- Team Lead, The Neo Child Initiative, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Azizat Ilo
- Research Team, The Neo Child Initiative, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Tobi Durojaiye
- Research Team, The Neo Child Initiative, Lagos, Nigeria
- Senior Clinical Research Associate, XCene Research, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Yusuf Shittu
- Research Team, The Neo Child Initiative, Lagos, Nigeria
- Founder, The Neo Child Initiative, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Tolani Kadiri
- Research Team, The Neo Child Initiative, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Bisola Raheem
- Research Team, The Neo Child Initiative, Lagos, Nigeria
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Mujidat Kehinde Alamutu
- Research Team, The Neo Child Initiative, Lagos, Nigeria
- Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Olamide Ojo
- Research Team, The Neo Child Initiative, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Alero Ann Roberts
- Department of Community Health and Primary Care, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| |
Collapse
|