TY - JOUR
T1 - Drivers of Routine and Outbreak Vaccination Uptake in the Western Democratic Republic of Congo
T2 - An Exploratory Study in Ten Health Zones
AU - Peckeu-Abboud, Laurene
AU - Mangoni, Patrick
AU - Chammam, Kaouther
AU - Kwete, Papy
AU - Lupola, Patrick Mutombo
AU - Vanlerberghe, Veerle
AU - Yango, Jepsy
AU - Meudec, Marie
AU - Ifufa, Christian
AU - van der Sande, Marianne A.B.
AU - Ntwan, Joule Madinga
AU - Mbala, Placide
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding: Funding was provided via the FA4-Credo project, through the Belgian Development Co-operation (DGD).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2022/7
Y1 - 2022/7
N2 - We performed a cross-sectional survey on vaccination-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among randomly selected parents of <5 years-old children, elderly populations (aged ≥ 55 years), and health care workers (HCWs) in 10 health zones from 4 provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Questionnaires targeted both routine (BCG, measles, polio) and outbreak-related (cholera, Ebola, COVID-19) vaccinations. In total, 2751 participants were included, 1165 parents, 1040 elderly, and 546 HCWs. In general, KAP expressed were supportive of vaccination uptake, although concerns regarding side effects and feelings of being insufficiently informed were more prevalent among parents and the elderly. Vaccine acceptance was lower for outbreak vaccinations (57%) than for routine vaccinations (90%). HCWs expressed the highest vaccine ac-ceptance. Problems with the vaccine supply chain were reported by 20% of respondents. Despite a high level of positive KAP towards vaccination, parents and the elderly expressed a need to be better informed and had concerns regarding vaccine side-effects. A high acceptance for routine vaccinations was reported by participants, but somewhat less for outbreak vaccinations. In conclusion, HCWs in the communities could play a key role in the increased uptake of routine vaccinations and in optimizing uptake during outbreaks, provided that the supply chain is functioning well.
AB - We performed a cross-sectional survey on vaccination-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among randomly selected parents of <5 years-old children, elderly populations (aged ≥ 55 years), and health care workers (HCWs) in 10 health zones from 4 provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Questionnaires targeted both routine (BCG, measles, polio) and outbreak-related (cholera, Ebola, COVID-19) vaccinations. In total, 2751 participants were included, 1165 parents, 1040 elderly, and 546 HCWs. In general, KAP expressed were supportive of vaccination uptake, although concerns regarding side effects and feelings of being insufficiently informed were more prevalent among parents and the elderly. Vaccine acceptance was lower for outbreak vaccinations (57%) than for routine vaccinations (90%). HCWs expressed the highest vaccine ac-ceptance. Problems with the vaccine supply chain were reported by 20% of respondents. Despite a high level of positive KAP towards vaccination, parents and the elderly expressed a need to be better informed and had concerns regarding vaccine side-effects. A high acceptance for routine vaccinations was reported by participants, but somewhat less for outbreak vaccinations. In conclusion, HCWs in the communities could play a key role in the increased uptake of routine vaccinations and in optimizing uptake during outbreaks, provided that the supply chain is functioning well.
KW - DRC
KW - HCWs
KW - outbreaks
KW - vaccination uptake
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85133568753
U2 - 10.3390/vaccines10071066
DO - 10.3390/vaccines10071066
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85133568753
SN - 2076-393X
VL - 10
JO - Vaccines
JF - Vaccines
IS - 7
M1 - 1066
ER -