Establishment of the Influence of Individual Factors on COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Healthcare Providers in Yatta Sub-County, Machakos County

Abstract

Introduction: Globally, approximately 70.5% of people have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination, with a total of 13.52 billion doses administered and an average of 35,159 doses given daily. Countries with notably low acceptance rates include Jordan, Russia, Ghana, Syria, and Lebanon. Vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, Black individuals, and those with lower socioeconomic status, tend to have lower vaccine acceptance rates. Methodology: The researcher utilized a cross-sectional descriptive design and employed simple random sampling for data collection. The study employed a census of the 370 CHPs and the 26 vaccinators. The structured questionnaire and key informant interviews were utilized to gather data. Before data collection began, informed consent was obtained from all participants, who were also provided with an explanation of the study’s objectives and potential benefits. Results and Findings: The study found that individual factors including; age, gender, marital status, and education significantly influence the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. This is evidenced by Chi-square values of 27.9, 23.4, 21.2, and 33.5, with corresponding p-values of 0.000, 0.013, 0.015, and 0.021. The analysis of individual factors affecting the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine in Yatta Sub-county, Machakos County, highlights that age, gender, education level, and marital status significantly affect the uptake of the vaccine. Conclusion: The study found that individual factors such as marital status, education level, gender, and age substantially influenced the decision to take the COVID-19 vaccine. For instance, younger individuals may have been more hesitant than elderly people, though people with higher education levels were more inclined to get vaccinated. Similarly, gender and marital status were discovered to influence vaccine uptake, with some tendencies being more prevalent in specific groups.