Magnitude of Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Associated Factors among School Adolescents in Seka Chekorsa Town, Seka Chekorsa Woreda, Jimma Zone, Oromia Region, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Currently COVID-19 is a global problem and affects many people in the world. One of the current prevention strategies is to use of vaccine. Pfizer-Biotech BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine authorized for adolescents aged 12-17 years. However, due to different misconception there is a challenge of increasing the vaccine coverage. Hesitancy to towards this vaccine is challenging to curb COVID-19 pandemic. The World health organization explains vaccine hesitancy as one of the ten threats in global health. However, little is known regarding the magnitude of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and associated factors among school adolescents. Objectives: To assess magnitude of COVID 19 vaccine hesitancy and associated factors among school adolescents in Seka chekorsa town, Jimma zone, Oromia region, southwest Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted. Study participants were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using interviewer administered technique and the collected data was checked for completeness and entered into EPI data version 3.1 and were exported to SPSS version 25. Multicollinearity of independent variables was checked using variance inflation factor and model fitness was checked using Hosmer- lemeshow model of fitness. The bivariate analysis was used to identify variables eligible for multivariate logistic regressions. Variables with p< 0.25 were entered to multivariable analysis to identify significant variables. The level of significance was declared at p value less than 0.05 and odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was reported. Results: A total of 379 participated in this study with response rate of 95.2% .Magnitude of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among school adolescents was 29%(95% CI: 24.3%-33.5%).Being female (AOR=1.89,95%,1.81-3.56),primary education(AOR=2.99,95%CI:1.26-3.56),source information from social media (AOR=2.42,95%CI:1.06-5.57),poor knowledge to COVID-19 disease(AOR=3.18,95%CI:1.66-6.12),unfavorable attitude (AOR=5.2, 95 % CI: 2.76-9.79) and poor knowledge to COVID-19 vaccine(AOR=5.66, 95% CI, 2.91-11.0) were associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adolescents Conclusion: this study shows that COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adolescent was 29%. Being female, poor knowledge towards COVID-19 disease and vaccine, unfavorable attitude and social media were factors significantly associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitance.