https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7851-5213
Abstract
Introduction
By the end of 2021, Ethiopia plans to vaccinate 20% of the population. The prioritized group includes people older than 65 years, health care workers, teachers, soldiers, and people living with comorbid diseases, including HIV/AIDS. However, due to a lack of intention and other reasons, only less than one percent of the population has taken COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the determinant factors of intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine among HIV-positive patients attending ART clinics in southern Ethiopia.
Methods
A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 398 HIV-positive patients from March 1 to April 28, 2021. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire by three midwives. We entered the data into Epi InfoTM 3.5.1. Binary logistic regression was used to identify independently associated variables in bivariate and multivariate analyses using SPSS version 20.
Results
Currently, the intention to take COVID-19 vaccine among HIV-positive patients was 33.7%. The probability of PLWHA to take COVID-19 vaccine was two (AOR = 2 (1.08–3.44)) times higher among those who have been diagnosed with chronic diseases (exclude HIV) with those with not been diagnosed. PLWHA who were male in sex were five (AOR = 5 (2.96–8.68)) times more likely to take COVID-19 vaccine than female. The study also indicated that the odds of intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine were 4.1 times (AOR = 4.1 (2.33–7.31)) times higher among those participants who had good knowledge of COVID-19 practice compared with those who had poor knowledge.
Conclusion
The overall intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine among PLWHA is low. Therefore, there is a need to improve the intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine among HIV-positive patients to achieve the 2021 goal of Ethiopia for 20% of the population vaccination. Patients with chronic illness, knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccine, and sex were factors associated with the intention to receive COVID-19 vaccine.
Keywords:
Abbreviations
PLWHA, people living with HIV/AIDS; WHO, World Health Organization; AOR, adjusted odds ratio; ART, antiretroviral therapy; CI, confidence interval; COR, crude odds ratio.
Data Sharing Statement
The corresponding author could obtain a full data set and other materials relating to this study upon reasonable request.
Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate
Helsinki’s declaration was followed to undertake this study. We obtained a letter of ethical clearance from Wolkite University College of Medical and Health Science Research, Community Services, and Industry Linkage with reference no. 010/13. We also took a supportive letter from Butajira Hospital. After the data collector informed the purpose and objective of the study, they obtained written consent from each study participant. All information gained during data collection was kept confidential, and we did not record any personal identification on the questionnaire. Participants were informed about their right to withdraw from the study at any time if they were not comfortable with the questionnaire.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Butajira hospital administration for their cooperation in providing information and support letters. The authors would like to provide our gratitude to Wolkite University for its ethical approval. Finally, we are grateful to all data collectors and study participants for their valuable contributions.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.