P-23 Corona Virus Disease-19 Vaccination Barrier Analysis
Author(s):
Q A Grant, P Ramdass , O Greaves
Year of Presentation:
2025
Objective: The present research was conducted to analyze
and compare the barriers to COVID-19 vaccine acceptance
in Regions 4 and 10 within the framework of a modified
Health Belief Model. At the implementation of the research
project, 78.1% of the adult population had received the first
dose of one of the available COVID-19 vaccines and 54.2%
had received second doses nationwide. At least 70% of the
population should have been fully vaccinated (at least two
doses) to achieve population immunity.
Methods: Cluster-stratified, probability sampling was used. One-on-one interviews were conducted using a standardized questionnaire among communities in Regions 4 and 10. Data was then transcribed to Microsoft Excel using codes for the quantitative data and separating the qualitative data into themes. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and/STATA and t test analyses were used to summarize the descriptive data into a table. Pearson’s Chi-Squared test in STATA version 13 was used to compare the barriers associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake between Regions 4 and 10. The level of significance employed for all tests was 0.05. Population sample was 335.
Results: Respondents’ religious beliefs influenced COVID19 vaccine acceptance. There was a 10.1% difference between the regions for those who perceived God’s disapproval of the vaccines – higher in Region 4. There was a 16.6% difference between the regions for those who perceived that the vaccines were available within 30 minutes from their home – higher in Region 10. 55.9% and 55.1% did not trust the information coming from government officials and/politicians about the COVID-19 vaccines for Regions 4 and 10 respectively. There were recurrent themes of the respondents’ perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines.
Conclusion: These findings can inform social behaviour change interventions in Guyana to address barriers to a successful vaccine uptake for other diseases with a public health threat or of public health emergency of international concern.