Strategies to promote COVID-19 vaccination in Northern Ghana: a qualitative study of stakeholders’ perspectives

Abstract

Background: Despite having sufficient vaccines to inoculate 88% of eligible individuals with at least one dose, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Ghana has been 42.0%. This study explored context-specific strategies to promote COVID-19 vaccination in northern Ghana. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study design guided this project. The stakeholder group included directors of health services, public health, disease control, health promotion officers, and traditional medicine healers. A total of 17 stakeholders were interviewed. Interviews were scheduled and conducted using Zoom calls. Zoom invitations were sent out, and each interview lasted 30 to 45 min. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data using NVivo. Results: Five themes emerged from the study: (1) the organization of vaccination programs, (2) organizational support for vaccination programs, (3) proposed strategies to enhance intake, (4) challenges encountered in vaccination programs, and (5) the exploration of herbal medicine as an alternative option. Conclusion: Our study provides vital insights into the strategies employed, challenges, and strategies that could help tackle COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in northern Ghana. These findings suggest that area-specific evaluation should be conducted to understand the peculiar logistics needed to support future vaccination programmes, and prioritization of people living with disability.