Willingness to participate in Ebola viral disease vaccine trials and receive vaccination by health workers in a tertiary hospital in Ile-Ife, Southwest Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

Ebola viral disease (EVD) epidemic need to be contained through means which include vaccination of susceptible population. Vaccination has eradicated major killer diseases.

OBJECTIVE

The study determined the health workers willingness to participate in EVD vaccine clinical trials and receive EVD vaccine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study design involving 370 consenting health workers of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife that completed a self administered semi-structured questionnaire. Data analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS

Mean age was 34.4±8.6years (range, 19-60years). Most were females (60.3%), and had worked <10years (74.3%). The health workers were mostly medical doctors (22.7%) and nurses (52.4%). EVD awareness (84.9%) was high among respondents with radio (37.2%) as major source of information. A higher proportion of respondents willing to participate in clinical trials were willing to receive vaccine (93% vs. 68%, p=0.0001). The significant variables associated with willingness to participate in EVD vaccine trials include being male [AOR 1.58, 95%CI 1.04-2.40, p=0.033], medical doctor [AOR 2.28, 95%CI 1.31-3.96, p=0.003] and having safe vaccine [AOR 2.10, 95% 1.58-3.98, p=0.0001] while the significant variable associated with willingness to receive EVD vaccine was vaccine safety [AOR 3.19, 95%CI 2.13-6.03, p=0.029].

CONCLUSION

Male gender, medical doctor and vaccine safety determine willingness to participate in Ebola vaccine trials while vaccine safety determines willingness to receive vaccine when ready. Researchers should ensure gender equality and vaccine safety in vaccine trials.