National Institute of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Rwanda, Butare, Rwanda.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Apr 29;24(1):1174. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-18650-3.
Vaccines are effective biological interventions that reduce health burdens. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were concerns about varying levels of COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the Zimbabwean population. This study aimed to understand facilitators and barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the Zimbabwean population.
In September-October 2023, key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with a sample comprising health workers, village health workers, church leaders, traditional healers, teachers, youth leaders and the general population selected across the country. At each site, the participant sample was homogeneous. Data were collected using audiotapes, transcribed verbatim, and translated into English. Data were analysed manually using thematic analysis.
Ten FGDs and 30 KIIs were conducted across the country. Among the facilitators of COVID-19 vaccine uptake were the perceived benefits of COVID-19 vaccination, such as protection from infection, severe disease and death. People also complied with COVID-19 vaccination because of the government's call for mandatory vaccination, travel restrictions, restrictions when entering some premises for services, visiting, working, learning and functions. Barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake included low-risk perception, negative attitudes emanating from concerns about the origins of the vaccines, COVID-19 cases or death of vaccinated people, negative peer influence, religious doctrines, cultural beliefs and misconceptions circulating through social media. Other barriers included knowledge gaps on COVID-19 vaccines, safety, effectiveness, side effects, access-related challenges to COVID-19 services and concerns over the changing policy on COVID-19 vaccination.
The study has shown the importance of community engagement and data-driven public health communication strategies to facilitate behaviour change for increased uptake of a vaccine. In future epidemics, public health campaigns should focus on the timely provision of information explaining the benefits of an intervention, addressing safety concerns more effectively. To build trust and hence improve vaccine uptake by the public, there is a need for continuous engagement with people and to provide platforms for dialogue to address issues contributing to low vaccine uptake.
疫苗是减少健康负担的有效生物干预措施。然而，在 COVID-19 大流行期间，津巴布韦民众的 COVID-19 疫苗接种覆盖率存在不同程度的担忧。本研究旨在了解津巴布韦民众对 COVID-19 疫苗接种的促进因素和障碍。
2023 年 9 月至 10 月，对全国范围内选择的卫生工作者、乡村卫生工作者、教会领袖、传统治疗师、教师、青年领袖和一般人群进行了关键知情人访谈（KII）和焦点小组讨论（FGD）。在每个地点，参与者样本都是同质的。使用录音带收集数据，逐字转录，并翻译成英文。使用主题分析手动分析数据。
在全国范围内进行了 10 次 FGD 和 30 次 KII。COVID-19 疫苗接种的促进因素包括 COVID-19 疫苗接种的益处，如预防感染、严重疾病和死亡。人们还遵守 COVID-19 疫苗接种规定，因为政府呼吁强制接种疫苗、旅行限制、进入某些场所服务、访问、工作、学习和功能时的限制。COVID-19 疫苗接种的障碍包括风险认知度低、对疫苗来源的担忧、COVID-19 病例或接种者死亡、负面同伴影响、宗教教义、文化信仰和社交媒体上流传的误解等负面态度。其他障碍包括 COVID-19 疫苗的知识差距、安全性、有效性、副作用、COVID-19 服务获取方面的挑战以及对 COVID-19 疫苗接种政策变化的担忧。
该研究表明，社区参与和基于数据的公共卫生沟通策略对于促进行为改变以提高疫苗接种率非常重要。在未来的疫情中，公共卫生运动应重点及时提供解释干预措施益处的信息，更有效地解决安全问题。为了建立信任，从而提高公众对疫苗的接种率，需要与人们持续接触，并提供对话平台，解决导致疫苗接种率低的问题。
