A Comparative Study of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptability and its Determinants among Urban and Rural Community Residents in Ogun State

Abstract

Background: The success of any COVID-19 vaccination programme will depend on public willingness to receive the vaccination. This is important to tailor public health messaging appropriately. This study aimed to determine and compare COVID-19 vaccine acceptability and factors influencing it among rural and urban community members in Ogun State. Methods: The study was a comparative cross-sectional study. Multistage sampling technique was utilized to select 404 and 396 adult residents from the urban and rural communities, respectively. Data collection was by structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were done. Level of significance was set at p<5%. Results: More respondents in urban area 186 (46.0%) were willing to accept COVID-19 vaccine compared to rural respondents 90 (22.7%) (p<0.001). Acceptance that COVID-19 is real (AOR=2.98; 95%CI=1.61-5.51 p<0.001) versus (AOR=2.17; 95CI=1.06-4.44 p=0.035) predicted acceptability in both urban and rural areas, respectively. In urban area, being a male (AOR=1.58; 95%CI=1.02-2.44 p=0.041) while in rural area, completion of immunization (AOR=3.47; 95%CI=1.79-6.72 p<0.001) and fair perceived risk of contracting COVID-19 (AOR=3.05; 95CI:1.55-6.01 p= 0.001) were predictors of acceptability. Conclusion: The study showed there was overall poor acceptability of COVID-19 vaccine among urban and rural residents. Urban residents were more likely to accept the vaccines compared to rural residents. Therefore, government should do more in terms of health education and promotion for a right attitude to COVID-19 vaccination.