Compliance Indicators of COVID-19 Prevention and Vaccines Hesitancy in Kenya: A Random-Effects Endogenous Probit Model

Abstract

Vaccine hesitancy remains a major public health concern in the effort towards addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. This study analyzed the effects of indicators of compliance with preventive practices on the willingness to take COVID-19 vaccines in Kenya. The data were from the COVID-19 Rapid Response Phone Surveys conducted between January and June 2021 during the fourth and fifth waves. The data were analyzed with the random-effects endogenous Probit regression model, with estimated parameters tested for robustness and stability. The results showed that willingness to take vaccines increased between the fourth and fifth waves. Compliance with many of the preventive practices also improved, although the utilizations of immune system-promoting practices were very low. The panel Probit regression results showed that compliance indicators were truly endogenous and there was existence of random effects. Immune system-boosting and contact-prevention indicators significantly increased and decreased the willingness to take vaccines, respectively (p < 0.01). The experience of mental health disorders in the form of nervousness and hopelessness also significantly influenced vaccine hesitancy (p < 0.10). Willingness to take vaccines also significantly increased among older people and those with a formal education (p < 0.01). Different forms of association exist between vaccine hesitancy and the prevention compliance indicators. There is a need to properly sensitize the people to the need to complement compliance with COVID-19 contact-prevention indicators with vaccination. Addressing mental health disorders in the form of loneliness, nervousness, depression, hopelessness and anxiety should also become the focus of public health, while efforts to reduce vaccine hesitancy should focus on individuals without formal education, males and youths.

Perceptions and Knowledge towards COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among a Subpopulation of Adults in Kenya: An English Survey at Six Healthcare Facilities

“…It was clear from our study that our respondents’ risk perception was related to their attitude about that vaccine. Similar to other studies, our study showed that higher levels of education and increasing age were associated with getting a COVID-19 vaccine [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]. This is contrary to what the Africa CDC found in its study reporting that people with primary level education and less were more likely to show confidence in the importance and safety of the vaccine, but they also reported that older people were more likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine; 20% of Kenyans aged 18–24 were not willing to take the vaccine versus 7% over the age of 55 [ 42 ].…”

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Africa: a scoping review

“…Being male was the most commonly reported factor associated with increased acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine [ 21 – 28 ]. Other factors that were associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance included higher level of education [ 21 , 25 , 28 – 34 ], working in a health-related occupation especially as a medical doctor [ 26 , 35 ], greater knowledge of COVID-19 or fear of contracting the virus (including having flu-like symptoms, being tested for COVID-19, or relatives who had contracted the virus) [ 36 – 39 ]. Also, possessing positive perceptions towards vaccine sources and the pharmaceutical industry [ 40 ] and higher income [ 39 ] were reported as facilitators of vaccine acceptance.…”

“…The reasons for vaccine hesitancy varied across studies (Table 2 ). Concern for safety was the most-mentioned factor [ 17 – 19 , 25 , 34 , 36 , 36 , 37 , 37 , 38 , 40 , 41 , 41 – 43 , 43 – 53 ]. Some of these concerns appeared to stem from mistrust towards the pharmaceutical industry, results from clinical trials, poor vaccine promotion with conflicting information, misinformation from social media, and the fear of getting ill or side effects from the vaccine [ 26 , 36 , 40 , 44 ].…”

COVID-19-Impfung für Menschen mit schweren psychischen Erkrankungen

“…Impfbereitschaft [ 24 , 25 , 31 , 32 ]. Weitere in mehreren Studien als Risikofaktoren für Nichtimpfung genannte Aspekte waren ein junges Alter [ 21 , 23 , 32 – 35 ], Fehlen eines festen Wohnsitzes [ 23 , 29 ], ein geringes Bildungsniveau [ 18 , 33 , 35 , 36 ], allgemein soziale Benachteiligung bzw. ein niedrigerer sozioökonomischer Status [ 6 , 26 , 29 ] sowie als weiterer Aspekt eine (stationäre) Behandlung gegen den Willen der Betroffenen [ 16 , 21 ].…”