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Original Research – Special Collection: Vaccine Effectiveness in Africa
Perceptions about COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers in Rwanda: A mixed-methods study
Submitted: 06 June 2024 | Published: 08 April 2025
About the author(s)
Erigene Rutayisire, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda; and African Forum for Research and Education in Health (AFREhealth), Kumasi, GhanaFrançois X. Ndayambaje, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda; and African Forum for Research and Education in Health (AFREhealth), Kumasi, Ghana
Sembuche Senga, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of
Raji Tajudeen, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Darius Uzabakiriho, Division of Research Innovation and Data Science, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Kigali, Rwanda
Solange Nikwigize, Division of Research Innovation and Data Science, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Kigali, Rwanda
Marie F. Muremba, Division of Research Innovation and Data Science, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Kigali, Rwanda
Eric Remera, Division of Research Innovation and Data Science, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Kigali, Rwanda
Tonny Muwonge, Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Leah Mbabazi, Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Rodgers R. Ayebare, Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Francis Kakooza, Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Tamrat Shaweno, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Nebiyu Dereje, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Elizabeth Gonese, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Harare, Zimbabwe
Mosoka P. Fallah, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Accra, Ghana
Ayman Ahmed, Institutes of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
Jean Claude S. Ngabonziza, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda; and Division of Research Innovation and Data Science, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Kigali, Rwanda
Abstract
Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are crucial for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination programmes, but their perceptions of the vaccine, particularly in low-income countries, are underexplored. This study investigated HCWs perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccination in Rwanda.
Aim: This study aimed to understand HCWs’ perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine in Rwanda.
Setting: A convergent mixed-methods study was conducted in 45 purposively selected health facilities in Rwanda.
Methods: A sample of 230 HCWs was purposively calculated to include 45 health facilities from both rural and urban districts across Rwanda to participate in this study. Healthcare workers were selected conveniently ensuring representation of the different cadres. Furthermore, one participant per facility underwent an in-depth interview. Data were analysed using STATA 17 (quantitative) and Dedoose (qualitative) software. Descriptive analysis was applied and findings presented frequencies and graphical representations. Inductive thematic analysis was performed to identify key themes in the qualitative data.
Results: Most participants were female, 183 (89%), and median age was 39 years. Most were nurses and/or midwives, 98 (42.6%) and all were fully vaccinated. A total of 59 (25.7%) HCWs had little or no confidence in answering patients’ questions about COVID-19 and the vaccine. Despite this, 91.3% would recommend Ministry or World Health Organization (WHO)-approved vaccines and had a positive overall perception about COVID-19 vaccine.
Conclusion: The positive perception of the COVID-19 vaccine among Rwandan HCWs aligns with the country’s successful vaccination programme. This potentially reflects effective national strategies. Further research into Rwanda’s COVID-19 response is however, warranted.
Contribution: This study reveals discrepancies in HCWs vaccine confidence in Rwanda, highlighting the need for targeted educational interventions to strengthen national COVID-19 response efforts.
Keywords
Sustainable Development Goal
Metrics
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