Healthcare Heroes and COVID-19: Understanding Vaccine Perception and Practice in a Nigerian Tertiary Care Centre
Chukwuemeka Chibuzo Umenweke
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Gabriel Chidera Edeh *
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Chidimma Praise Onwuaghamba
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Chisom Amara Umenweke
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Cynthia Eze
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria.
Chisom Christine Emetu
Department of Microbiology, College of Science, Clemson University, South Carolina, USA.
Chimdalu Obialunamma Chukwujekwu
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Chizoba Jessica Diogu
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical role of vaccination in mitigating transmission and severe outcomes, particularly among high-risk groups like healthcare workers (HCWs). Healthcare workers have an important role to play in the success of COVID-19 vaccination programs as their practice and recommending the vaccines to the public is dependent on their perceptions towards the vaccine.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study assessed the perceptions, practices, and determinants of COVID-19 vaccination among HCWs at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nigeria, a pivotal site for national vaccination efforts. A stratified sampling method was used to recruit 260 HCWs, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, and administrative staff. Data were collected via validated questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results: This survey revealed high awareness (98.8%) of COVID-19 vaccines, with 66.9% demonstrating a good perception of vaccine safety and efficacy. However, only 39.6% had received at least one vaccine dose, highlighting a stark perception-practice gap. Vaccination rates varied by profession. Doctors had the highest uptake (54.5%), while nurses exhibited the lowest (26.8%). Key motivators included civic responsibility (55.3%) and fear of COVID-19 (48.5%), whereas barriers centered on safety concerns (53.1%), perceived inadequate clinical trials (48.8%), and mistrust in institutions (50.4%). Some socio-demographic disparities were significant (p ≤ 0.05), with older, male, and tertiary-educated HCWs more likely to vaccinate.
Conclusion: Despite accessibility at NAUTH (71.5% availability), hesitancy persisted due to misinformation and fear of adverse effects. The findings advocate for targeted interventions addressing profession-specific concerns, enhanced public health communication, and community-driven advocacy to bridge the uptake gap. Strengthening transparency in vaccine development and addressing systemic mistrust are vital for achieving global immunization targets in resource-limited settings.
Keywords: COVID-19 vaccination, healthcare workers, vaccine hesitancy, perception-practice gap