Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Health Care Workers: A Case Study of Mogadishu City, Somalia

Aims: Covid-19 disrupted the Health Care system and operations globally between 2020 and 2021 through exponential infections, disease and adverse negative economic impact as a result of the virus. Due to the high risk of infection, health care workers are a high priority target group for vaccination against COVID-19. The objective of current study was to assess the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake among health care workers in Mogadishu, Somalia. The study sought to establish the proportion of vaccinated healthcare workers, determine the socio-demographic and healthcare system factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake among health care workers in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Methodology: Purposive sampling was used to select the six hospitals in Mogadishu while stratified random sampling was used to select a sample of 276 participants in the sampled hospitals. Structured questionnaires were use collect data. Data was analyzed SPSS to generate descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Results: The study established that 54.3% (n) of the healthcare workers had taken the COVID-19 vaccine. The study found that the socio-demographic factors increased the odds of uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine were job cadre with doctors (Odds=0.859, p=0.007), Nurses (Odds=1.175, p=0.010);area of work with ICU (Odds=0.614, p=0.014), Isolation Ward (Odds=2.825, p=0.007); Age 21-30 years (Odds=1.125, p=0.002), 31-40 years (Odds=1.106, p=0.000). The healthcare system factors associated with increased odds for COVID-19 vaccine uptake were being in contact with patients with COVID-19 (Odds=0.948, p=0,008); Conducting weekly tests (Odds=0.786, p =0.010); previously testing positive for COVID-19 (Odds=0.752, p=0.041).

Conclusion: The study concluded that a significant number 45.7 %(n) of healthcare workers in Mogadishu had low or inadequate had not taken the COVID-19 Vaccine for a number of reasons, this is worrying since these are the frontline workers in the fight of COVID 19 pandemic.

Recommendations: The study recommends that health education and health promotion is necessary to enhance vaccine uptake and use among health workers particularly during such pandemics. Policymakers and administrators should develop clear guidelines and create supportive environment to enhance health education and health promotion during pandemics.