Factors influencing intention and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines on the African continent: a scoping review.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a severe concern worldwide, particularly in Africa. Vaccines are crucial in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. This scoping review examined existing literature on factors influencing intention and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Africa. Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage methodological paradigm was applied. A comprehensive search was undertaken from October 1st to 13th, 2021, using EBSCOhost, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar regarding the factors influencing intention and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines for studies conducted in Africa. A total of fifty published academic articles were reviewed, with many conducted in Nigeria and Ethiopia. The data analysis revealed five themes: attitudes & perceptions towards COVID-19 vaccines, intention to uptake COVID-19 vaccines, factors associated with acceptance/non-acceptance, socio-demographic determinants affecting the intention and uptake, and information sources for COVID-19 vaccines. The intention for uptake ranged between 21% and 90.1 %. Factors that promoted vaccine acceptance included confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine and the desire to protect vulnerable people. Age and sex were the most common factors significantly associated with vaccine acceptance. In contrast, most studies revealed that respondents' primary reasons for non-acceptance were safety and effectiveness concerns. The primary source of knowledge for the COVID-19 vaccines came from mass and social media. The vast majority of studies examined revealed that considerable barriers to vaccine uptake exist in Africa, contributing to the public's apprehension in this regard and resulting in a suboptimal uptake intention. To encourage vaccine uptake, governments should pay attention to refuting misinformation through integrated community-based approaches.