Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39169315›Full record

ArticleBMC infectious diseases2024

Factors affecting COVID-19 vaccine uptake in populations with higher education: insights from a cross-sectional study among university students in Malawi.

Qebo Kornelio Madhlopa, Matthews Mtumbuka, Joel Kumwenda, Thomas Arron Illingworth, Marie-Claire Van Hout, Joseph Mfutso-Bengo, Chomora Mikeka, Isaac Thom Shawa

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Qebo Kornelio MadhlopaKamuzu University of Health Sciences, P/Bag 360, Chichiri Blantyre 3, Blantyre, Malawi.
Matthews MtumbukaUbuntuNet Alliance, Onions Office Complex, Off Mzimba Street, P.O. Box 2550, Lilongwe, Malawi.
Joel KumwendaKamuzu University of Health Sciences, P/Bag 360, Chichiri Blantyre 3, Blantyre, Malawi.
Thomas Arron IllingworthSchool of Human Science, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby, DE22 1GB, UK.
Marie-Claire Van HoutResearch, Innovation and Impact, South East Technological University, Waterford, Cork Road Campus, X91 K0EK, Ireland.
Joseph Mfutso-BengoKamuzu University of Health Sciences, P/Bag 360, Chichiri Blantyre 3, Blantyre, Malawi.
Chomora MikekaFaculty of Science, University of Malawi Chancellor College, P.O. Box 280, Zomba, Malawi.
Isaac Thom ShawaKamuzu University of Health Sciences, P/Bag 360, Chichiri Blantyre 3, Blantyre, Malawi. i.shawa@derby.ac.uk.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccines were rolled out in many countries; however, sub-optimal COVID-19 vaccine uptake remains a major public health concern globally. This study aimed at assessing the factors that affected the uptake, hesitancy, and resistance of the COVID-19 vaccine among university undergraduate students in Malawi, a least developed country in Africa.

methodsA descriptive cross-sectional study design was conducted using an online semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 343 University undergraduate students in Blantyre participated in this study after obtaining ethical clearance. Data was exported from Survey Monkey to Microsoft Excel version-21 for cleaning and was analysed using SPSS version-29. Descriptive statistics, including percentages, were performed to define the sample characteristics. Pearson Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were performed to identify significant relationships between vaccine uptake and demographics. A 95% confidence interval was set, and a p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

resultsOf the 343 participants, 43% were vaccinated. Among the vaccinated, the majority (47.3%, n = 69/146) received Johnson & Johnson vaccine followed by AstraZeneca (46.6%, n = 68/146). The commonly reported reason for vaccine acceptance was 'to protect me against getting COVID-19' (49%); whereas vaccine hesitancy was attributed to 'lack of knowledge (34%), and concerns about vaccine safety (25%).

conclusionsThis study found that adequate knowledge about benefits and safety of COVID-19 vaccine could potentially increase uptake. Lack of credible information or misinformation contributed to vaccine hesitancy. The findings provide insights for design of strategies to increase future vaccine uptake and reduce determinants of vaccine hesitancy. To reduce vaccination hesitancy in any population with or without higher education, we recommend that institutions entrusted with vaccine management must optimise health messaging, and reduce mis-information and dis-information.

Indexed as

COVID-19COVID-19 VaccinesStudentsVaccinationAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesEducational StatusFemaleHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansMalawiMaleSARS-CoV-2Surveys and QuestionnairesUniversitiesCOVID-19 VaccinesCOVID-19DisinformationHealth messagingMalawiMisinformationUniversity studentsVaccine hesitancyVaccine resistanceVaccine uptake

Identifiers

PMID39169315
PMCPMC11337745

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.