Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the globe in all spheres of human life: physical health, mental health, economic burden, and social lives. Population-based vaccination is considered one of the core global response strategies for the containment of Covid-19 across regions, including third world countries. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with Covid-19 vaccination uptake among rural dwellers in the North Bank Region (NBR) of The Gambia.
METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study design was used in the NBR from 1st to 10th October 2021. The study was carried out among 504 rural households across districts in the NBR through a multistage sampling procedure. Structured interviews were used to generate data for this study. Chi-square/Fisher exact tests, as well as logistic regression analysis, were used to examine the associations, with statistical significance set at a p-value <0.05 and the computed adjusted odds ratio (aOR) set at a 95% confidence interval (CI).
RESULTS: Covid-19 vaccination prevalence was 44%, out of which 87% received Johnson while 13% received AstraZeneca vaccines. In terms of associated factors, males [aOR: 2.728, 95% CI (1.638 - 4.542)] and those at the senior secondary educational level [aOR: 4.525, 95% CI (1.272 - 16.098)] were more likely to utilize Covid-19 vaccines. However, other factors such as being Wollof by ethnicity [aOR: 0.334, 95% CI (0.132 - 0.845)], those who earned D1,000 – D4,999 [aOR: 0.125, 95% CI (0.029 - 0.541)], D5,000 – D9,999 [aOR: 0.096, 95% CI (0.021 - 0.440)], those who tested for Covid-19 vaccines [aOR: 0.227, 95% CI (0.121 - 0.428)], and those who travelled outside the country [aOR: 0.576, 95% CI (0.367 - 0.904)] were less likely to utilize Covid-19 vaccines after controlling for confounders.
CONCLUSION: The study revealed a low prevalence of Covid-19 vaccine uptake in the region, with associated factors including gender, ethnicity, and educational level. There is a need for social and political commitment in the drive to increase vaccine uptake across the country. Target-specific messaging for the population should be developed in local languages across media outlets in The Gambia.
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