Predictors for vaccine hesitancy among nursing students in Namibia
Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are a priority group targeted for vaccination because they are greatly exposed to infectious agents. Aim: To determine the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination and associated risk factors for vaccine hesitancy to recommend vaccine uptak...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
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| Online Access: | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/683 |
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| author | Rebekka N. Gabriel Alfeus D. Kashiva Ottilie N. Shikesho |
| author_facet | Rebekka N. Gabriel Alfeus D. Kashiva Ottilie N. Shikesho |
| author_sort | Rebekka N. Gabriel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are a priority group targeted for vaccination because they are greatly exposed to infectious agents.
Aim: To determine the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination and associated risk factors for vaccine hesitancy to recommend vaccine uptake strategies among student nurses.
Setting: The study was carried out at the University of Namibia, main campus in Windhoek.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken using a proportionate stratified sampling method. The total sample for the study was 509 students. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 29 was used to analyse data. Frequencies and proportions were calculated. Bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression were conducted to pronounce the predictors for vaccine hesitancy.
Results: Only 31.40% students were vaccinated against COVID-19. Out of the vaccinated, 41.80% (p 0.001) were previously infected with COVID-19. Participants who were not HCWs before nursing school were most likely not to be vaccinated (p 0.001). Most unvaccinated students were hesitant because of a lack of information about the COVID-19 vaccine’s side effects (50.36%) and not knowing its effectiveness (38.13%). A total 60.80% of the participants believed a vaccine was needed to overcome the pandemic.
Conclusion: We recommend the creation of targeted awareness campaigns that shed more light on the benefits of vaccination and vaccine side effects.
Contribution: The study identifies key factors that can be targeted to change student nurses’ behaviour towards vaccination and offers valuable data that can inform preparedness and response strategies for future pandemics in Namibia and similar regions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b4f29e219b4e4658b68281f5f0ccf685 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2038-9922 2038-9930 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
| spelling | doaj-art-b4f29e219b4e4658b68281f5f0ccf6852025-08-20T02:56:15ZengAOSISJournal of Public Health in Africa2038-99222038-99302024-11-01151e1e610.4102/jphia.v15i1.683455Predictors for vaccine hesitancy among nursing students in NamibiaRebekka N. Gabriel0Alfeus D. Kashiva1Ottilie N. Shikesho2Department of Community and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, WindhoekDepartment of Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Namibia, WindhoekDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Namibia, WindhoekBackground: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are a priority group targeted for vaccination because they are greatly exposed to infectious agents. Aim: To determine the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination and associated risk factors for vaccine hesitancy to recommend vaccine uptake strategies among student nurses. Setting: The study was carried out at the University of Namibia, main campus in Windhoek. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken using a proportionate stratified sampling method. The total sample for the study was 509 students. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 29 was used to analyse data. Frequencies and proportions were calculated. Bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression were conducted to pronounce the predictors for vaccine hesitancy. Results: Only 31.40% students were vaccinated against COVID-19. Out of the vaccinated, 41.80% (p 0.001) were previously infected with COVID-19. Participants who were not HCWs before nursing school were most likely not to be vaccinated (p 0.001). Most unvaccinated students were hesitant because of a lack of information about the COVID-19 vaccine’s side effects (50.36%) and not knowing its effectiveness (38.13%). A total 60.80% of the participants believed a vaccine was needed to overcome the pandemic. Conclusion: We recommend the creation of targeted awareness campaigns that shed more light on the benefits of vaccination and vaccine side effects. Contribution: The study identifies key factors that can be targeted to change student nurses’ behaviour towards vaccination and offers valuable data that can inform preparedness and response strategies for future pandemics in Namibia and similar regions.https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/683covid-19healthcare workershesitancynursing studentsuniversity studentsvaccination |
| spellingShingle | Rebekka N. Gabriel Alfeus D. Kashiva Ottilie N. Shikesho Predictors for vaccine hesitancy among nursing students in Namibia Journal of Public Health in Africa covid-19 healthcare workers hesitancy nursing students university students vaccination |
| title | Predictors for vaccine hesitancy among nursing students in Namibia |
| title_full | Predictors for vaccine hesitancy among nursing students in Namibia |
| title_fullStr | Predictors for vaccine hesitancy among nursing students in Namibia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predictors for vaccine hesitancy among nursing students in Namibia |
| title_short | Predictors for vaccine hesitancy among nursing students in Namibia |
| title_sort | predictors for vaccine hesitancy among nursing students in namibia |
| topic | covid-19 healthcare workers hesitancy nursing students university students vaccination |
| url | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/683 |
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