Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Hesitancy among People with HIV in Freetown, Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| Authors: |
Peterlyn E. Cummings, Sulaiman Lakoh, Sahr A. Yendewa, Samuel P. E. Massaquoi, Peter B. James, Foday Sahr, Gibrilla F. Deen, Robert A. Salata, Pelema Gevao, George A. Yendewa |
| Source: |
Vaccines, Vol 11, Iss 11, p 1685 (2023) |
| Publisher Information: |
MDPI AG, 2023. |
| Publication Year: |
2023 |
| Collection: |
LCC:Medicine |
| Subject Terms: |
COVID-19, vaccination, HIV, Sierra Leone, Medicine |
| More Details: |
People with HIV (PWH) incur a higher risk of COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality rates, yet less is known about COVID-19 vaccine uptake and hesitancy in this group. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from April to June 2022, using the VAX scale, a validated instrument, to assess attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination and calculate the hesitancy (VAX) scores. We used generalized linear models to identify the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. Overall, 490 PWH were enrolled (71.4% female, median age: 38 years, median CD4 count: 412 cells/mm3). About 17.3% received ≥1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The mean VAX score was 43.14 ± 7.05, corresponding to 59.9% participants being vaccine-hesitant. A preference for natural immunity (65.8%) and concerns about profiteering (64.4%) were the commonest reasons for hesitancy, followed by a mistrust of vaccine benefits (61.4%) and worries about future effects (48.0%). In the adjusted regression analysis, being a Muslim (β = 2.563, p < 0.001) and having an urban residence (β = 1.709, p = 0.010) were associated with greater vaccine hesitancy, while testing for COVID-19 was associated with reduced vaccine hesitancy (β = −3.417, p = 0.027). These findings underscore the importance of addressing vaccine hesitancy as a critical element boosting COVID-19 vaccine uptake among PWH. |
| Document Type: |
article |
| File Description: |
electronic resource |
| Language: |
English |
| ISSN: |
2076-393X |
| Relation: |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/11/1685; https://doaj.org/toc/2076-393X |
| DOI: |
10.3390/vaccines11111685 |
| Access URL: |
https://doaj.org/article/a44d84e8ef6146088facfdb2157f8856 |
| Accession Number: |
edsdoj.44d84e8ef6146088facfdb2157f8856 |
| Database: |
Directory of Open Access Journals |
