Prevalence of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Healthcare Workers in Nigeria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Overview

Journal Int J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2025 Feb 20

PMID 39973941

Authors

Taagbara Jolly Abaate

Dabota Yvonne Buowari

Utchay A Agiri Jr

Tamunodiepiriye Inimgba

Vivian Ifeoma Ogbonna

Chizaram Onyeaghala

Glory Ovunda Worgu

Abiye Somiari

Emmanuella I Ezebuiro

Ibe Arthur Onuah

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Nigerian healthcare professionals.

Methods: An extensive language-unrestricted literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and the African Index Medicus to identify studies reporting hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers in Nigeria. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for cross-sectional studies. A single-arm meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model.

Results: Of the 206 articles, 22 publications with 20,724 participants were included. The pooled prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was 75% (95% CI: 61%-88%, I = 99.69%, P < 0.001). Reasons for hesitancy, including concerns about side effects, lack of trust, and safety, were prevalent at 76% (CI: 0.57-0.94, I = 99.24%, P < 0.001), 55% (CI: 0.042-0.272, I = 97.42%, P < 0.001), and 68% (CI: 0.047-0.89, I = 98.59%, P < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusion: There was significant hesitancy among Nigerian healthcare workers towards COVID-19 vaccination; thus, strategies to increase vaccination acceptance among healthcare workers should be developed.

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