Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccien uptake among rulral elderly population in Mangochi district, Malawi

Rashid, Stanely; Kaluwa, Thandiwe; Mandala, Edna; Master, Elton

Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccien uptake among rulral elderly population in Mangochi district, Malawi

Date

2022-09-08

Authors

Publisher

Kamuzu University of Health Sciences

Abstract

Type of study: The study will be quantitative and shall adopt a cross-sectional design The problem to be studied: Global statistics indicate over 218 million cases and 4.5 million deaths from Covid-19 were recorded by December 2021. Several preventive and containment measures were put in place including Covid-19 vaccine with at least 7,508,600,122 doses administered globally. Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy has been the main stumbling block in SubSaharan African countries including Malawi. Going by fully vaccination status data as of 20th January 2022, Botswana is at 45.9%, Nigeria, 2.5%, and Tanzania is at 2.3%. Malawi managed to fully vaccinate 3.5% of its population, and 5.4% has at least received a single dose of AstraZeneca vaccine by 16 November 2021. During the same period Mangochi district fully vaccinated 1.9% of its population despite the availability of both AstraZeneca and Jessen. It is undisputable fact that Covid-19 uptake has been poor in many parts of the continent down to the district level. Consumption of Covid-19 vaccine in Mangochi has been flat across all age groups including the elderly despite them being one of high-risk groups. Misinformation, ignorance, gender, sex, religion, and rates infection are said to influence Covid-19 vaccine uptake in many parts of the continent. Diffusion of innovation model highlights that adoption of any new idea (innovation) depends on characteristics of the innovation, communication channels, time and the nature of the social system. Once the uncertainties associated with a new behaviour or an innovation are resolved, implementation and adoption of innovation becomes easy. Objectives: The study aims to examine factors influencing Covid-19 vaccine uptake among rural elderly population in Mangochi. Specifically, the study seeks to; Establish proportion of Covid-19 vaccine uptake among elderly people in rural parts of Mangochi, assess factors associated with Covid-19 vaccine uptake among rural elderly population in Mangochi, determine strategies used in the course of Covid-19 administration in Mangochi. Methodology: The study will be conducted in rural parts of Mangochi where data will be collected and analysed quantitatively. A multi-stage sampling technique will be used to enroll study participants from randomly selected Traditional Authorities, Villages and households. Cochran’s formula will be used to calculate required sample size and later structured questionnaires will be administered to collect data from the interviewees. Data shall be entered into excel sheets, cleaned and will be analysed using SPSS version 22. A multivariate logistic regression will be run to determine associations. Ethical clearance will be sought from College of Medicine Ethics and Research Committee (COMREC) and permission to conduct the study has been obtained from Mangochi district hospital research committee. Participants will be informed of benefits and risks associated with the study and informed consent form will be signed. Participants identities will be protected by using codes and information provided will be treated with high level of confidentiality. Only participants who are 60 years of age and above and willing to take part in the study will be enrolled. Those that will be 60 years of age and above and not willing to take part will be excluded. Participants rights to quit at any stage will be reserved without attracting any penalties. 08-Sep-2022 10 Factors influencing COVID 19 vaccine uptake among rural elderly population in Mangochi Version 2.0 Expected findings: Covid-19 vaccine uptake among rural elderly population will be low despite them being one of the high-risk groups. Dissemination of results: The results of the study will be presented to Mangochi District Executive Committee (DEC), in research seminars, and be published in Malawi Medical Journal (MMJ). An end of study (close-out) report will be submitted to COMREC.