AUTHOR=Ajose Azeezat , Akinde Cassandra , Ilo Azizat , Durojaiye Tobi , Shittu Yusuf , Kadiri Tolani , Raheem Bisola , Alamutu Mujidat Kehinde , Ojo Olamide , Roberts Alero Ann 

TITLE=Nigerian parents and caregivers knowledge, attitude and willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1047285

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1047285

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Objectives: In order to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19, a significant proportion of the population will need to be vaccinated. Experts have recommended that African children be allowed to get vaccinated to protect them from emerging variants of COVID-19 infection. This study investigated Nigerian parents and caregivers’ knowledge, attitude, and willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 once the vaccines are made available to them.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of 500 parents/caregivers was conducted in Nigeria. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about their sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of and attitude towards COVID-19 infection and vaccination, willingness to vaccinate their child, and factors that could influence their decision to vaccinate their child. A scoring system was used to classify participants' level of knowledge and attitude into 2 categories, namely poor and good. We analyzed data obtained using SPSS Version 22.
Results: The majority of the participants were females (63.6%). Analysis of responses revealed good knowledge and attitude in 265(53.0%) and 266(53.2%) respondents, respectively. Overall, less than half of the parents/caregivers (48.4%) expressed intention to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Factors associated with willingness to vaccinate children against COVID-19 included age greater than 40years, male gender, residing in Southern Nigeria, having good knowledge, knowing an infected person or a vaccinated person, feeling they or their child is at risk of contracting COVID-19 infection, willingness to vaccinate self against COVID-19 and good attitude. Significant predictors of willingness to vaccinate their child include age greater than 40 years (AOR: 2.56; 95%CI = [1.14-5.76]), willingness to vaccinate self (AOR: 1016.81; 95%CI = [128.51-8045.60]) and good attitude (AOR: 6.21; 95% CI = [2.83-13.64]).
Conclusion: This study revealed a low parental willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 and identified factors influencing it. It is important to develop and implement health education programs iterating the risk of children getting infected with SARS-CoV-2 and its emerging variants to ensure optimal uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine in Nigerian children.