Peer-reviewed article
Vaccine Hesitancy Amidst the Re-emergence of Diphtheria: Evidence from Plateau State, Nigeria
A.O Lewis ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study looks at why people in Plateau State, Nigeria, hesitate to take up the diphtheria vaccine while diphtheria is returning. It surveyed 389 adults in eight local government areas that had previously recorded diphtheria cases, using questionnaires and interviews. People knew little about the return of the disease or its signs and symptoms. Fears about vaccine safety and infertility, low confidence in health workers, and parents' decisions about household vaccination were linked to hesitancy.
Key points
- Knowledge and awareness of the re-emergence of diphtheria were low.
- Understanding of the signs and symptoms of diphtheria was limited.
- Some respondents were unsure about the vaccine and lacked confidence in health personnel, citing fears of infertility and negative beliefs about vaccine safety.
- Poor awareness, negative self-assumptions and parental decision-making about household vaccination were identified as major factors.
- The sample was 389 participants drawn from eight local government areas that had recorded diphtheria previously.
Limitations
This is a cross-sectional study of adults only, as children were excluded, so it shows associations at one point in time and not changes or causes. It also covers only selected areas of Plateau State, and the abstract gives no numerical results.
Abstract
The rise in vaccine-preventable diphtheria diseases underscores the issue of vaccine hesitancy in Nigeria that undermines herd immunity and results in the re-emergence of diphtheria outbreaks. Knowledge and awareness of diphtheria resurgence among people of Plateau State, as well as signs and symptoms, is a challenge. This research examines the diphtheria vaccine hesitancy among individuals in Plateau State, Nigeria. The study employed a cross-sectional approach, utilizing questionnaires and interviews for data collection. A total sample size of 389 participants was involved through using Cochran’s William formula of 1963, and areas selected were LGAs that had recorded diphtheria infection previously (Wase, Jos-North, Kenam, Bokkos, Pankshin, Barkin-Ladi, Langtang, and Mikang LGAs). The study considered the inclusion of male and female, both infected victims and non-infected victims, where it excluded laboratory tests, children, and disabled people from the selected environment. The ethical considerations included contacting the Plateau State Ministry of Health and the Plateau State Hospital Management Board, as well as maintaining confidentiality. The study analyzed the data using simple statistics, including frequency/percentage, mean, and standard deviation, as well as factor analysis to determine the primary factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy in Plateau State. The findings reveal low knowledge and a lack of awareness about the re-emergence of the disease, as well as a limited understanding of its signs and symptoms. Others, unsure of the vaccine, lack confidence among health personnel due to fears of infertility and negative beliefs about vaccine safety. Poor awareness, self-negative assumptions, and parental decision-making regarding household vaccination are major factors identified. Thus, recommendations were made appropriately to encourage herd immunity.