Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Engagement in Algeria: A Population-Based Study With Systematic Review of Studies From Arab Countries of the MENA Region

Frontiers in Public Health

article

Salah Eddine Oussama Kacimi¹  Selma Nihel Klouche-Djedid¹  Omar Riffi¹  Hadj Ahmed Belaouni²  Farah Yasmin³  Mohammad Yasir Essar⁴  Fatma Asma Taouza⁵  Yasmine Belakhdar⁶  Saliha Chiboub Fellah¹  Amira Yasmine Benmelouka⁷  Shoaib Ahmed⁸  Mohammad Aloulou⁹  Abdellah Bendelhoum¹  Hafida Merzouk^1,10  Sherief Ghozy^1,11  Jaffer Shah^1,13  Mohamed Amine Haireche^1,14 

[1] Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tlemcen;Laboratoire de Biologie des Systèmes Microbiens;Dow University of Health Sciences;Kabul University of Medical Sciences;Faculty of Medicine, University of Oran;Faculty of Medicine, University of Annaba;Faculty of Medicine, University of Algiers;Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad;Faculty of Medicine, University of Aleppo;Laboratory of Physiology, Physiopathology and Biochemistry of Nutrition, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Earth and Universe, University of Tlemcen;Neurovascular Research Lab, Radiology Department, Mayo Clinic;Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Science, Medical Science Division, Oxford University;Medical Research Center, Kateb University;Research Department

关键词: COVID-19;    vaccine;    Algeria;    acceptance;    hesitancy;    Middle-East and North African (MENA);    SARS-CoV-2;    immunization;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2022.843449

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Background The Algerian COVID-19 vaccination campaign, which started at the end of January 2021, is marked by a slowly ascending curve despite the deployed resources. To tackle the issue, we assessed the levels and explored determinants of engagement toward the COVID-19 vaccine among the Algerian population. Methods A nationwide, online-based cross-sectional study was conducted between March 27 and April 30, 2021. A two-stage stratified snowball sampling method was used to include an equivalent number of participants from the four cardinal regions of the country. A vaccine engagement scale was developed, defining vaccine engagement as a multidimensional parameter (5 items) that combined self-stated acceptance and willingness with perceived safety and efficacy of the vaccine. An Engagement score was calculated and the median was used to define engagement vs. non-engagement. Sociodemographic and clinical data, perceptions about COVID-19, and levels of adherence to preventive measures were analyzed as predictors for non-engagement. Results We included 1,019 participants, 54% were female and 64% were aged 18–29 years. Overall, there were low rates of self-declared acceptance (26%) and willingness (21%) to take the vaccine, as well as low levels of agreement regarding vaccine safety (21%) and efficacy (30%). Thus, the vaccine engagement rate was estimated at 33.5%, and ranged between 29.6-38.5% depending on the region ( p > 0.05). Non-engagement was independently associated with female gender (OR = 2.31, p < 0.001), low adherence level to preventive measures (OR = 6.93, p < 0.001), private-sector jobs (OR = 0.53, p = 0.038), perceived COVID-19 severity (OR = 0.66, p = 0.014), and fear from contracting the disease (OR = 0.56, p = 0.018). Concern about vaccine side effects (72.0%) and exigence for more efficacy and safety studies (48.3%) were the most commonly reported barrier and enabler for vaccine acceptance respectively; whereas beliefs in the conspiracy theory were reported by 23.4%. Conclusions The very low rates of vaccine engagement among the Algerian population probably explain the slow ascension of the vaccination curve in the country. Vaccine awareness campaigns should be implemented to address the multiple misconceptions and enhance the levels of knowledge and perception both about the disease and the vaccine, by prioritizing target populations and engaging both healthcare workers and the general population.

【 授权许可】

CC BY