Health Research Conference – Garowe.
Prevalence of COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance and Its Associated Factors Among Elderly People [>60 Years] Living in Benadir Region, Southeastern Somalia
Background: Somalia is similar to most countries in terms of COVID-19 affecting more on elderly people over 60 years of age (who make up 1-2% of the population) representing unequal number of cases (15%) compared to the rest of the population. Globally as of Twenty third of December 2021, there have been 276,436,619 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 5,374,744 deaths. In Somalia from January third 2020 to December Twenty third 2021 there have been a total of 23,169 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 1,333 deaths. In terms of COVID-19 vaccination uptake as of December 22nd 2021 there have been 1,453,959 vaccine doses administered globally, but in Somalia the number of fully vaccinated people was only 771,000 individuals. The aim of present study was to investigate the level of acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine and its associated factors among elderly people.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional community based study design using a quantitative approach through questionnaires administered by interviewers was carried out among 427 participants from September to November 2021. A Quota based non-probability sampling technique was used to include participants from all seventeen districts in the region and enhance the representativeness of the study results. Elderly people over the age of 60 years who lived in the study area at least six months prior to data collection and willing to participate were included, while elderly people who did not believe the existence of COVID-19 or its vaccine, those who were ill, and those who had difficulty in understanding and responding questions clearly and coherently were not eligible. To asses factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination acceptance a multivariate logistic regression model was employed. Statistically a P-value of <0.05 was thought to suggest significance of association.
Result: Overall among the 427 participants of the study, the majority [64.4%] was male and [35.6%] were female. Their mean age ± SD was [71.8 ±7.9]. The majority of respondents [76.1%] were married. More than half of the participants [53.9%], did not read and write while only [12.2%] had secondary and above educational attainment. Related to occupational status most of them [54.1%], were unemployed followed by [19%] merchants.
The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was [40.2%] of whom (10.5%) were already vaccinated and the remaining (29.7%) had a desire to take the vaccine in the future. The main reasons that convinced most of them to take the vaccine were due to their old age (32.8%), fast spreading nature of the disease (27%) and fatality of the disease (16.1%). The main reasons presented among the 255 (59.8%) respondents who hesitated to take the vaccine were lack of adequate information (36.9%), safety concerns (23.1%) and reasons related to religion (14.1%). Furthermore participant’s acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination was significantly associated with having a household member who died for COVID-19 [OR = 2.508; 95% CI = 1.154-5.451], a close friend who died for COVID-19 [OR = 2.8; 95% CI = 1.545-5.149], could not read and write [OR = 0.075; 95% CI = 0.031- 0.182], could read and write [OR = 0.103; 95% CI = 0.040- 0.263], elementary education [OR = 0.086; 95% CI = 0.027-0.270], having heard about COVID-19 vaccine [OR = 0.374; 95% CI = 0.184- 0.758)], elderly people don’t have higher need to take COVID-19 vaccine [OR = 0.304; 95% CI = 0.109- 0.847], unknown if elderly people have higher need to take COVID-19 vaccine [OR = 0.492; 95% CI = 0.273-0.887],
Conclusions: The results of the study showed that prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among elderly people was low therefore, the federal ministry of health, member states and regional ministries and authorities of health, the media, the religious leaders and all other concerned international and local organizations should co-operate and create an increased level of awareness about the lack of adequate information, safety concerns, religious misconceptions and the need to take the vaccine.
