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Ayieko S, Jaoko W, Opiyo RO, Orang’o EO, Messiah SE, Baker K, Markham C. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Subjective Norms Associated with COVID-19 Vaccination among Pregnant Women in Kenya: An Online Cross-Sectional Pilot Study Using WhatsApp. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:98. [PMID: 38248561 PMCID: PMC10815556 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21010098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been recommended, but the perceptions related to uptake remain unexplored. This pilot study aimed to explore how perceptions influence COVID-19 vaccine uptake among a sample of 115 pregnant women in Kenya, recruited via WhatsApp. Data were collected using an adapted online questionnaire between May and October 2022. Logistic analyses assessed the relationship between COVID-19 vaccination uptake and the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) constructs: attitudes and subjective norms. COVID-19 vaccination coverage was 73%, with vaccine hesitancy estimated at 41.4% among the unvaccinated group. Most participants had completed college education and had good knowledge of COVID-19 vaccines. There was no significant effect of enrollment in WhatsApp pregnancy groups on attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. Pregnant women were concerned about vaccine effectiveness (31.1%), and almost one-half (47.3%) were discouraged from receiving COVID-19 vaccines. Positive attitudes towards vaccination were associated with COVID-19 vaccination (aOR 2.81; 95% CI 1.12-7.04; p = 0.027), but no significant relationship was found between COVID-19 vaccination and strong subjective norms (influences to get COVID-19 vaccines). Our findings suggest that strategies to improve vaccination should consider targeting attitudes and proximal social networks (friends/family) to facilitate vaccination decision-making. WhatsApp can be used for research distribution and enhance the dissemination of accurate information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Ayieko
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (K.B.); (C.M.)
| | - Walter Jaoko
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, P.O Box 19676, Nairobi 00202, Kenya;
- KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676, Nairobi 00202, Kenya
| | - Rose Okoyo Opiyo
- Department of Public and Global Health, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676, Nairobi 00202, Kenya;
| | | | - Sarah E. Messiah
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Dallas, TX 75207, USA;
- Center for Pediatric Population Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Dallas, TX 75207, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kimberly Baker
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (K.B.); (C.M.)
| | - Christine Markham
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (K.B.); (C.M.)
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