International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh (icddr, b), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Front Public Health. 2024 Oct 9;12:1466313. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1466313. eCollection 2024.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, persons with disabilities (PWDs) have faced additional disadvantages that have exacerbated their physical and mental health challenges. In Nigeria, where cultural, religious, and informational barriers persist, understanding these factors is critical for improving health interventions, including vaccine uptake among PWDs.
This study employed a qualitative descriptive-interpretive design to explore the perceptions of PWDs regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccine, alongside social workers' views on their roles in facilitating vaccine uptake. We conducted in-depth semi-structured telephone interviews with 20 participants, comprising 16 PWDs and four social workers in Nigerian rehabilitation homes. Data were analyzed using critical thematic analysis to identify key themes influencing attitudes toward the pandemic and vaccine uptake.
The study uncovered significant barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake among PWDs, primarily driven by mistrust in government initiatives, widespread conspiracy theories, and deeply held cultural and religious beliefs. Additionally, while social workers played crucial roles as community surveillance officers, in-house educators, and community referral agents, their interventions lacked specific strategies aimed at increasing vaccine uptake among PWDs. Their efforts were more focused on addressing the psychological impacts of the pandemic rather than fostering behavioral changes toward vaccine acceptance.
To enhance COVID-19 vaccine uptake among PWDs in Nigerian rehabilitation homes, targeted interventions that address the identified barriers are essential. These should include trust-building measures, culturally and religiously sensitive communication strategies, and tailored educational programs by social workers. Moreover, training social workers in specific, evidence-based strategies to increase vaccine uptake is crucial for mitigating the pandemic's impact on this vulnerable population.
在 COVID-19 大流行期间，残疾人（PWDs）面临着额外的劣势，这些劣势加剧了他们的身心健康挑战。在尼日利亚，文化、宗教和信息障碍仍然存在，了解这些因素对于改善健康干预措施至关重要，包括残疾人的疫苗接种率。
本研究采用定性描述-解释设计，探讨了残疾人对 COVID-19 大流行和疫苗的看法，以及社会工作者对其在促进疫苗接种方面的作用的看法。我们对尼日利亚康复中心的 20 名参与者进行了深入的半结构化电话访谈，其中包括 16 名残疾人和 4 名社会工作者。使用关键主题分析对数据进行分析，以确定影响对大流行和疫苗接种率态度的关键主题。
研究发现，残疾人对 COVID-19 疫苗接种的接受度存在显著障碍，主要原因是对政府倡议的不信任、广泛的阴谋论以及根深蒂固的文化和宗教信仰。此外，虽然社会工作者作为社区监测官员、内部教育者和社区转介代理人发挥了至关重要的作用，但他们的干预措施缺乏旨在提高残疾人疫苗接种率的具体策略。他们的工作更多地侧重于解决大流行的心理影响，而不是促进对疫苗接受的行为改变。
为了提高尼日利亚康复中心残疾人的 COVID-19 疫苗接种率，必须采取针对这些障碍的干预措施。这些措施应包括建立信任措施、对文化和宗教敏感的沟通策略以及社会工作者制定的量身定制的教育计划。此外，培训社会工作者使用特定的、基于证据的策略来提高疫苗接种率对于减轻这一弱势群体受大流行的影响至关重要。
