Kessy Ambrose T, Onuekwe Chima E, Mwengee William M, Tumaini Haonga
Directorate of Research, Publications and Consultancy, The University of Dodoma, Dodoma, United Republic of Tanzania.
Department of Planning, Finance and Administration, The Law School of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania.
J Public Health Afr. 2025 Apr 18;16(3):705. doi: 10.4102/jphia.v16i3.705. eCollection 2025.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical role of communication strategies in influencing public health behaviours, particularly vaccine uptake. In Tanzania, media and community engagement strategies have been pivotal in efforts to enhance COVID-19 vaccine acceptance; however, their effectiveness remains under scrutiny.
This study examines the role of media and community engagement in promoting COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Tanzania by analysing various communication channels and community outreach initiatives.
The study was conducted in Tanzania across eight purposively selected regions that encompass a broad spectrum of socio-cultural contexts and infrastructural variations.
A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative surveys ( = 3098), qualitative interviews and focus group discussions ( = 30) across eight regions. Stratified random sampling ensured proportional representation, while thematic analysis identified key trends in perceptions, vaccine uptake and the influence of the media and community leaders.
High levels of awareness (99.3%) regarding COVID-19 and vaccination were observed; however, vaccine uptake was uneven, with 37.2% vaccinated and regional variations persisting. Trusted sources included traditional media (radio and television) and community influencers, whereas misinformation and inconsistent government messaging contributed to hesitancy. Community engagement by healthcare providers and local leaders significantly influences vaccine acceptance.
These findings highlight the importance of context-specific communication strategies that integrate media and community engagement to build trust, address misinformation and increase vaccine uptake. Policymakers and public health professionals should focus on fostering consistency in messaging, leveraging local leaders and tailoring outreach to diverse socio-cultural contexts.
This study makes a substantial contribution by empirically demonstrating the critical roles that media and community engagement play in shaping vaccine acceptance in Tanzania.
新冠疫情凸显了沟通策略在影响公众健康行为，特别是疫苗接种方面的关键作用。在坦桑尼亚，媒体和社区参与策略对于提高新冠疫苗接受度至关重要；然而，其有效性仍在审视之中。
本研究通过分析各种沟通渠道和社区外展举措，考察媒体和社区参与在促进坦桑尼亚新冠疫苗接受度方面的作用。
该研究在坦桑尼亚八个经过有目的选择的地区开展，这些地区涵盖了广泛的社会文化背景和基础设施差异。
采用混合方法，结合了八个地区的定量调查（n = 3098）、定性访谈和焦点小组讨论（n = 30）。分层随机抽样确保了比例代表性，而主题分析确定了认知、疫苗接种情况以及媒体和社区领袖影响方面的关键趋势。
观察到对新冠疫情和疫苗接种的认知水平较高（99.3%）；然而，疫苗接种情况不均衡，37.2%的人接种了疫苗，地区差异依然存在。可靠的信息来源包括传统媒体（广播和电视）以及社区有影响力的人物，而错误信息和政府信息不一致导致了人们的犹豫。医疗保健提供者和地方领导人的社区参与对疫苗接受度有显著影响。
这些发现凸显了因地制宜的沟通策略的重要性，这些策略整合了媒体和社区参与，以建立信任、解决错误信息并提高疫苗接种率。政策制定者和公共卫生专业人员应专注于促进信息的一致性，利用地方领导人的影响力，并根据不同的社会文化背景调整外展工作。
本研究通过实证证明媒体和社区参与在塑造坦桑尼亚疫苗接受度方面所起的关键作用，做出了重大贡献。
