The acceptance of Covid-19 vaccines in Rwanda

A cross-sectional study

Bibliographic Data

ID15354827
AuthorsEdward Mbonigaba (0000-0003-3537-3088, Heidelberg University, corresponding author), Fengyun Yu (0000-0002-5607-1102, Heidelberg University), Mark Donald C Reñosa (0000-0002-7414-7174, Heidelberg University), Ivan Emil Mwikarago (University of Kigali), Frederick Nchang Cho (0000-0002-6105-6388, University of Buea), Peter Canisius Kuku Elad (University of Buea), Wolfram Metzger (University of Tübingen), Richard Muhindo (0000-0002-3249-117X, Makerere University), Qiushi Chen (0000-0003-4031-2669, Pennsylvania State University), Claudia M Denkinger (0000-0002-7216-7067, Heidelberg University), Shannon A Mcmahon (0000-0002-8634-9283, Heidelberg University), Simiao Chen (0000-0003-0555-2157, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College)
Year2024
Volume24
Issue1
Pages2875-2875
Publication date2024-10-18
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBMC Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1471-2458 • E-ISSN: 1471-2458
PublisherBioMed Central (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1186/s12889-024-20417-9
PMID39425074
OpenAlexW4403541379
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited55

The first reported case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Rwanda occurred on March 14 2020. By the end of July 2024, a total of 133,518 individuals had tested positive for the infection, resulting in 1,468 deaths and 132,039 had fully recovered. The success of COVID-19 elimination in Rwanda hinges on the public's level of acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccination. Although COVID-19 is no longer a pandemic anymore, the World Health Organisation recommends countries vaccinate their populations to protect them from COVID-19 and its variants. Globally, COVID-19 has affected 704,753,890 people, caused 7,010,681 deaths and 675,619,811 have recovered. This study aimed to assess the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines among adults aged 18 years and above in Rwanda. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2022 to determine the associations between COVID-19 vaccine acceptance (VA) with respondents' characteristics, using logistic regression analysis. This study enrolled 2,126 respondents with a mean age of 31 years, the majority of whom were females (82.2%), 51.4% had completed primary education, and 78.7% were married. Most respondents recognized the importance of COVID-19 vaccination for both personal health and community well-being. The study found a high rate of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, with 91.6% of respondents expressing VA and an overall VA rate of 98.2%. Having a relationship with the child(ren) was the only characteristic associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance (p; 3.2 × 10 - 3 , OR; 2.9, 95% C.I; 1.4-5.9). In conclusion, the study found a high rate of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among adults in Rwanda, with COVID-19 associated with having a relationship with the child(ren). The study recommends the need for mass educational campaigns and awareness-raising efforts to understand of COVID-19 vaccines

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Biostatistics · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Cross-sectional study · Disease · Environmental health · Family medicine · Infectious disease (medical specialty · Outbreak · Pandemic · Pathology · Public health · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 · COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts · Medicine · Nursing · SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy · Epidemiology · Virology