Willingness to Participate in Testing, Contact Tracing, and Taking the COVID-19 Vaccine among Community Members in a Southwestern State in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to describe community members’ willingness to participate in COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in a Southwestern state in Nigeria. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Community members aged 15 years and above were studied using a multi-stage sampling technique. One question each was asked on respondents’ willingness for COVID-19 testing, contact disclosure, and willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were conducted on willingness for COVID-19 testing, contact disclosure and taking the COVID-19 vaccine. Multivariate logistic analyses were performed on variables that were significant at the bivariate level. P-values <0 .05 were statistically significant. Results: Among the 691 respondents, 244 (35.3%) were aged 21-29 years, 436 (73.2%) were willing to take the COVID-19 test, 458 (66.3%) were willing to disclose contacts’ names if tested positive, and 434 (74.8%) were willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Persons who earned less than 30,000 naira (U.S.$78.95) monthly had two times the odds to be willing to take the COVID-19 test (OR=2.031, (95%CI=1.117-3.694), p = 0.02). Persons who had completed 10-12 years of education had three times the odds to be willing to disclose contacts if tested positive for COVID-19 (OR=2.628, (95%CI=1.301-5.308), p=0.007). Persons whose financial status worsened, i.e., those whose income had reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, had three times the odds to be willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine (OR=2.686, (95%CI=1.363-6.448), p=0.006). Conclusion: Interventions to improve willingness for COVID-19 testing and taking the COVID-19 vaccine should be targeted towards those wealthy individuals.