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- Title
Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Hesitancy among People with HIV in Freetown, Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study.
- Authors
Cummings, Peterlyn E.; Lakoh, Sulaiman; Yendewa, Sahr A.; Massaquoi, Samuel P. E.; James, Peter B.; Sahr, Foday; Deen, Gibrilla F.; Salata, Robert A.; Gevao, Pelema; Yendewa, George A.
- Abstract
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.
- Subjects
FREETOWN (Sierra Leone); SIERRA Leone; VACCINE hesitancy; VACCINATION status; COVID-19 vaccines; ATTITUDES toward illness; HEALTH attitudes
- Publication
Vaccines, 2023, Vol 11, Issue 11, p1685
- ISSN
2076-393X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/vaccines11111685