Factors affecting COVID-19 vaccine uptake in populations with higher education: insights from a cross-sectional study among university students in Malawi

Journal article


Madhlopa, Q.K, Mtumbuka, M, Kumwenda, J, Illingworth, T.A, Van Hout, M, Mfutso-Bengo, J, Mikeka, C and Shawa, I.T 2024. Factors affecting COVID-19 vaccine uptake in populations with higher education: insights from a cross-sectional study among university students in Malawi. BMC Infectious Diseases. 24 (1), p. 848. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-09534-3
AuthorsMadhlopa, Q.K, Mtumbuka, M, Kumwenda, J, Illingworth, T.A, Van Hout, M, Mfutso-Bengo, J, Mikeka, C and Shawa, I.T
Abstract

Background
The Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccines were rolled out in many countries; however, sub-optimal COVID-19 vaccine uptake remains a major public health concern globally. This study aimed at assessing the factors that affected the uptake, hesitancy, and resistance of the COVID-19 vaccine among university undergraduate students in Malawi, a least developed country in Africa.

Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional study design was conducted using an online semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 343 University undergraduate students in Blantyre participated in this study after obtaining ethical clearance. Data was exported from Survey Monkey to Microsoft Excel version-21 for cleaning and was analysed using SPSS version-29. Descriptive statistics, including percentages, were performed to define the sample characteristics. Pearson Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test were performed to identify significant relationships between vaccine uptake and demographics. A 95% confidence interval was set, and a p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results
Of the 343 participants, 43% were vaccinated. Among the vaccinated, the majority (47.3%, n = 69/146) received Johnson & Johnson vaccine followed by AstraZeneca (46.6%, n = 68/146). The commonly reported reason for vaccine acceptance was ‘to protect me against getting COVID-19’ (49%); whereas vaccine hesitancy was attributed to ‘lack of knowledge (34%), and concerns about vaccine safety (25%).

Conclusions
This study found that adequate knowledge about benefits and safety of COVID-19 vaccine could potentially increase uptake. Lack of credible information or misinformation contributed to vaccine hesitancy. The findings provide insights for design of strategies to increase future vaccine uptake and reduce determinants of vaccine hesitancy. To reduce vaccination hesitancy in any population with or without higher education, we recommend that institutions entrusted with vaccine management must optimise health messaging, and reduce mis-information and dis-information.

KeywordsCOVID-19; Vaccine uptake; Vaccine hesitancy; Vaccine resistance; Malawi; University students; Health messaging; Misinformation; Disinformation
Year2024
JournalBMC Infectious Diseases
Journal citation24 (1), p. 848
PublisherBMC (Springer Nature)
ISSN1471-2334
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-09534-3
Web address (URL)https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-024-09534-3
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online21 Aug 2024
Publication process dates
Accepted18 Jun 2024
Deposited04 Sep 2024
Permalink -

https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/q7w3x/factors-affecting-covid-19-vaccine-uptake-in-populations-with-higher-education-insights-from-a-cross-sectional-study-among-university-students-in-malawi

Download files


Publisher's version
Madhlopa et al. 2024 _s12879-024-09534-3.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 14
    total views
  • 3
    total downloads
  • 11
    views this month
  • 2
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Drug induced liver injury - a 2023 update.
Allison, R., Guraka, A., Shawa, I., Tripathi, G., Moritz, W. and Kermanizadeh, A. 2023. Drug induced liver injury - a 2023 update. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B. 26 (8), pp. 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/10937404.2023.2261848
Targeting hPKM2 in cancer: a bio isosteric approach for ligand design
Pipitò.L, Illingworth, T.A and Deganutti.G 2023. Targeting hPKM2 in cancer: a bio isosteric approach for ligand design. Computers in Biology and Medicine. 158, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.106852
Bacterial Interactions Affecting Chemotherapy Effectiveness
Chambers, J.M and Illingworth, T. 2023. Bacterial Interactions Affecting Chemotherapy Effectiveness. McGill Science Undergraduate Research Journal. 18 (1), pp. 15 - 18. https://doi.org/10.26443/msurj.v18i1.190
Rotavirus Genotypes in Hospitalized Children With Acute Gastroenteritis Before and After Rotavirus Vaccine Introduction in Blantyre, Malawi, 1997–2019
Mhango, C, Mandolo, J.J, Chinyama, E, Wachepa, R, Kanjerwa, O, Malamba-Banda, C, Matambo, P.B, Barnes, K.G, Chaguza, C, Shawa, I., Nyaga, M.M, Hungerford, D, Parashar, U.D, Pitzer, V.E, Kamng’ona, A.W, Iturriza-Gomara, M, Cunliffe, N.A and Jere, K.C 2022. Rotavirus Genotypes in Hospitalized Children With Acute Gastroenteritis Before and After Rotavirus Vaccine Introduction in Blantyre, Malawi, 1997–2019. The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 225 (12), pp. 2127 - 2136. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaa616
Hepatitis B Vaccination Impact and the Unmet Need for Antiviral Treatment in Blantyre, Malawi
Stockdale, A.J, Meiring, J.E, Shawa, I., Thindwa, D, Silungwe, N.M, Mbewe, M, Kachala, R, Kreuels, B, Patel, P, Patel, P, Henrion, M.Y.R, Bar-Zeev, N, Swarthout, T.D, Heyderman, R.S, Gordon, S.B, Geretti, A.M and Gordon, M.A 2022. Hepatitis B Vaccination Impact and the Unmet Need for Antiviral Treatment in Blantyre, Malawi . The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 226 (5), p. 871–880. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiab562
A clinical and molecular epidemiological survey of hepatitis C in Blantyre, Malawi, suggests a historic mechanism of transmission
Stockdale, A.J, Kreuels, B, Shawa, I.T, Meiring, J.E, Thindwa, D, Silungwe, N.M, Chetcuti, K, Joekes, E, Mbewe, M, Mbale, B, Patel, P, Kachala, R, Patel, P.D, Malewa, J, Finch, P, Davis, C, Shah, R, Tong, L, Filipe, A.D.S, Thomson, E.C, Geretti, A.M and Gordon, M.A 2022. A clinical and molecular epidemiological survey of hepatitis C in Blantyre, Malawi, suggests a historic mechanism of transmission. Journal of Viral Hepatitis. 29 (4), p. 252–262. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvh.13646
Infection with the hepatitis C virus causes viral genotype-specific differences in cholesterol metabolism and hepatic steatosis
Shawa, I.T, Sheridan, D.A, Shawa, I.T, Thomas, E.L, Felmlee, D.J, Bridge, S.H, Neely, D, Cobbold, J.F, Holmes, E, Bassendine, M.F and Taylor-Robinson, S.D 2022. Infection with the hepatitis C virus causes viral genotype-specific differences in cholesterol metabolism and hepatic steatosis. Scientific Reports . 12 (5562). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-09588-w
Leveraging Beneficial Off-Target Effects of Live-Attenuated Rotavirus Vaccines
Benedicto-Matambo, P, Bines, J.E, Malamba-Banda, Chikondi, Shawa, I., Barnes, K, Kamng'ona, A.W, Hungerford, D, Jambo, K.C, Iturriza-Gomara, M, Cunliffe, N.A, Flanagan, K.L and Jere, K.C 2022. Leveraging Beneficial Off-Target Effects of Live-Attenuated Rotavirus Vaccines. Vaccines. 10 (3), p. 418. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10030418
Development and validation of anti-human Alpha synuclein DNA aptamer using computer modelling techniques—an in silico study
Rock, M., Zouganelis, G., Belchior de Andrade, A., Drake, S., Alexiou, A., Albrakati, A., Bathia, G. E. S. and Illingworth, T. 2022. Development and validation of anti-human Alpha synuclein DNA aptamer using computer modelling techniques—an in silico study. Journal of Integrative Neuroscience. 21 (1), p. 5. https://doi.org/10.31083/j.jin2101005
Advancing the global public health agenda for NAFLD: a consensus statement
Shawa, I. and Consortium 2021. Advancing the global public health agenda for NAFLD: a consensus statement. Nature Reviews. Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 19 (1), pp. 60-78. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-021-00523-4
The global NAFLD policy review and preparedness index: Are countries ready to address this silent public health challenge?
Shawa, I. and Consortium 2021. The global NAFLD policy review and preparedness index: Are countries ready to address this silent public health challenge? Journal of Hepatology. 76 (4), pp. 771-780. https://doi.org/DOI:10.1016/j.jhep.2021.10.025
Reduction in Severity of All-Cause Gastroenteritis Requiring Hospitalisation in Children Vaccinated against Rotavirus in Malawi
Mandolo, J.J, Henrion, M.Y.R, Mhango, C, Chinyama, E, Wachepa, R, Kanjerwa, O, Malamba-Banda,C, Shawa, I., Hungerford, D, Kamng’ona, A.W, Iturriza-Gomara, M, Cunliffe, N.A and Jere, K.C 2021. Reduction in Severity of All-Cause Gastroenteritis Requiring Hospitalisation in Children Vaccinated against Rotavirus in Malawi. Viruses. 13 (12). https://doi.org/10.3390/v13122491
Diagnostic performance evaluation of hepatitis B e antigen rapid diagnostic tests in Malawi
Stockdale, A.J, Silungwe, N.M, Shawa, I, Kreuels, B, Gordon, M.A and Geretti, A.M 2021. Diagnostic performance evaluation of hepatitis B e antigen rapid diagnostic tests in Malawi. BMC Infectious Diseases. 21, p. 487. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06134-3
The formyl peptide receptor agonist FPRa14 induces differentiation of Neuro2a mouse neuroblastoma cells into multiple distinct morphologies which can be specifically inhibited with FPR antagonists and FPR knockdown using siRNA
Howe, Michael, Illingworth, Thomas, Milton, Nathaniel, Paterson, Andrew, Gomez-Escalada, Margarita and Cussell, Peter.J.G 2019. The formyl peptide receptor agonist FPRa14 induces differentiation of Neuro2a mouse neuroblastoma cells into multiple distinct morphologies which can be specifically inhibited with FPR antagonists and FPR knockdown using siRNA. PLos ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217815