Covid-19 vaccine acceptance among patients utilising outpatient services at Kiambu level 5 hospital, Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has tremendously impacted social, economic, and political aspects of people’s lives worldwide in the past two years. Vaccine development and vaccination are some of the countermeasures against COVID-19. However, vaccine acceptance has generally been poor worldwide, particularly in developing countries, including Kenya. The study determined the willingness to be vaccinated of the population using Kiambu Level 5 Hospital outpatient Department between February and March 2022. Null hypotheses were used to determine the relationship between variables. The study was a cross-sectional analytical study. Data was collected using researchers' administered questionnaires. The data was run through SPSS software for analysis and interpretation. Measures of association and logistical regression were used to compare variables. The data was then presented using tables, graphs, and pie charts. The study results showed that the majority of the respondents were willing to be vaccinated (71.1%). Those vaccinated were 62.4% of the respondents. One factor contributing to the high rate of willingness to be vaccinated is that the vaccines are free. The government’s initiative to roll out campaigns about vaccination helped make people accept to be vaccinated. The requirement for evidence of vaccination as one of the prerequisites to receive government, transport, religious and recreational services helped to drive up the demand to be vaccinated. More than half of the respondents (50.8%) were young adults (21-30 years). The majority of the respondents had acquired education up to the tertiary level (59.9%). Most respondents acquired information regarding the vaccine from radios (63.5%), social media (64.5%), and televisions (83.2%) For this study, the factors positively associated with vaccine acceptance were higher education (p = 0.028), a high-income level (p = 0.027), and religious affiliation (p = 0.039). Age and occupation did not affect vaccine acceptance. The respondent's knowledge and beliefs (p < 0.05) on COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines were found to be significant factors that influenced their willingness to be vaccinated. Most of the health-sector-related factors did not influence vaccine acceptance. The study results were used to make recommendations on improving the populations' willingness to get vaccinated.