A Descriptive-Multivariate Analysis of Community Knowledge, Confidence, and Trust in COVID-19 Clinical Trials among Healthcare Workers in Uganda

Vaccines

Barbara E. Bierer¹  Kevin Bardosh²  Charles Drago Kato³  David Paul Nalumenya³  Gabriel Tumwine³  Khalid J. Alzahrani⁴  Naif E. Al Omairi⁵  Nina Rugambwa⁶  Kenedy Kiyimba⁷  Gaber El-Saber Batiha⁸  Lisa M. DeTora⁹  David Onanyang^1,10  Anne Laudisoit^1,11  Halima Nalugo^1,12  Grace Henry Musoke^1,13  Daniel Chans Mwandah^1,14  Francis P. Crawley^1,15  Keneth Iceland Kasozi^1,16  Shui Ching Nelly Mak^1,16  Ewan Thomas MacLeod^1,16  Susan Christina Welburn^1,16  Fred Ssempijja^1,17  Ibe Michael Usman^1,17  Juma John Ochieng^1,17  Kevin Matama^1,17  Patrick Kyamanywa^1,17  Robinson Ssebuufu^1,17  Eric Aigbogun^1,17  Theophilus Pius^1,17  Emmanuel Tiyo Ayikobua^1,18  Lawrence Obado Osuwat^1,18  Herbert Izo Ninsiima^1,19  Linda Lillian^2,20 

[1] Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;Center for One Health Research, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA;College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda;Department of Clinical Laboratories Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia;Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia;Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Computing, Library and Information Science, P.O. Box 317 Kabale, Uganda;Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Health sciences, Busitema University, P.O. Box 206 Mbale, Uganda;Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22511, AlBeheira, Egypt;Department of Writing Studies and Rhetoric, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA;Department of biology, Faculty of Science, Gulu University, P.O. Box 166 Gulu, Uganda;EcoHealth Alliance, 520 Eighth Ave, Suite 1201, New York, NY 10018, USA;Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410 Mbarara, Uganda;Faculty of Science and Technology, Cavendish University, P.O. Box 33145, Kampala, Uganda;Faculty of Science, Muni University, P.O. Box 725 Arua, Uganda;Good Clinical Practice Alliance-Europe and Strategic Initiative for Developing Capacity in Ethical Review, BE-1050 Brussels, Belgium;Infection Medicine, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, 1 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK;Kampala International University Western Campus, P.O. Box 71 Bushenyi, Uganda;School of Health Sciences, Soroti University, P.O. Box 211 Soroti, Uganda;School of Medicine, Kabale University, P.O. Box 317 Kabale, Uganda;Uganda National Health Laboratory Services, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 7272 Kampala, Uganda;

关键词: COVID-19 clinical trials in resource poor countries;    COVID-19;    clinical trials in Africa;    COVID-19 and medical workers;    vaccines;    COVAX;   

DOI  :  10.3390/vaccines9030253

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Background—misinformation and mistrust often undermines community vaccine uptake, yet information in rural communities, especially of developing countries, is scarce. This study aimed to identify major challenges associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine clinical trials among healthcare workers and staff in Uganda. Methods—a rapid exploratory survey was conducted over 5 weeks among 260 respondents (66% male) from healthcare centers across the country using an online questionnaire. Twenty-seven questions assessed knowledge, confidence, and trust scores on COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials from participants in 46 districts in Uganda. Results—we found low levels of knowledge (i.e., confusing COVID-19 with Ebola) with males being more informed than females (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 0.7–3.0), and mistrust associated with policy decisions to promote herbal treatments in Uganda and the rushed international clinical trials, highlighting challenges for the upcoming Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccinations. Knowledge, confidence and trust scores were higher among the least educated (certificate vs. bachelor degree holders). We also found a high level of skepticism and possible community resistance to DNA recombinant vaccines, such as the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. Preference for herbal treatments (38/260; 14.6%, 95% CI: 10.7–19.3) currently being promoted by the Ugandan government raises major policy concerns. High fear and mistrust for COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials was more common among wealthier participants and more affluent regions of the country. Conclusion—our study found that knowledge, confidence, and trust in COVID-19 vaccines was low among healthcare workers in Uganda, especially those with higher wealth and educational status. There is a need to increase transparency and inclusive participation to address these issues before new trials of COVID-19 vaccines are initiated.

【 授权许可】

Unknown