Perceptions of yellow fever emergency mass vaccinations among vulnerable groups in Uganda: A qualitative study.
Background Yellow fever (YF), a mosquito-borne viral hemorrhagic fever, is endemic in Uganda and causes frequent outbreaks. A total of 1.6 million people were vaccinated during emergency mass immunization campaigns in 2011 and 2016. This study explored local perceptions of YF emergency mass immuniza...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:ce7c1acdd017402881853f593fefa92f 2024-09-09T19:27:31+00:00 Perceptions of yellow fever emergency mass vaccinations among vulnerable groups in Uganda: A qualitative study. Lena Huebl Aloysious Nnyombi Aban Kihumuro Denis Lukwago Eddy Walakira Ruth Kutalek 2024-05-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012173 https://doaj.org/article/ce7c1acdd017402881853f593fefa92f EN eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0012173&type=printable https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2727 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2735 1935-2727 1935-2735 doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0012173 https://doaj.org/article/ce7c1acdd017402881853f593fefa92f PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 18, Iss 5, p e0012173 (2024) Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 article 2024 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012173 2024-08-05T17:49:18Z Background Yellow fever (YF), a mosquito-borne viral hemorrhagic fever, is endemic in Uganda and causes frequent outbreaks. A total of 1.6 million people were vaccinated during emergency mass immunization campaigns in 2011 and 2016. This study explored local perceptions of YF emergency mass immunization among vulnerable groups to inform future vaccination campaigns. Methodology In this qualitative study, we conducted 43 semi-structured interviews, 4 focus group discussions, and 10 expert interviews with 76 participants. Data were collected in six affected districts with emergency mass vaccination. We included vulnerable groups (people ≥ 65 years and pregnant women) who are typically excluded from YF vaccination except during mass immunization. Data analysis was conducted using grounded theory. Inductive coding was utilized, progressing through open, axial, and selective coding. Principal findings Participants relied on community sources for information about the YF mass vaccination. Information was disseminated door-to-door, in community spaces, during religious gatherings, and on the radio. However, most respondents had no knowledge of the vaccine, and it was unclear to them whether a booster dose was required. In addition, the simultaneous presidential election during the mass vaccination campaign led to suspicion and resistance to vaccination. The lack of reliable and trustworthy information and the politicization of vaccination campaigns reinforced mistrust of YF vaccines. Conclusions/significance People in remote areas affected by YF outbreaks rely on community sources of information. We therefore recommend improving health education, communication, and engagement through respected and trusted community members. Vaccination campaigns can never be seen as detached from political systems and power relations. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 18 5 e0012173 |
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Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
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Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Lena Huebl Aloysious Nnyombi Aban Kihumuro Denis Lukwago Eddy Walakira Ruth Kutalek Perceptions of yellow fever emergency mass vaccinations among vulnerable groups in Uganda: A qualitative study. |
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Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
description |
Background Yellow fever (YF), a mosquito-borne viral hemorrhagic fever, is endemic in Uganda and causes frequent outbreaks. A total of 1.6 million people were vaccinated during emergency mass immunization campaigns in 2011 and 2016. This study explored local perceptions of YF emergency mass immunization among vulnerable groups to inform future vaccination campaigns. Methodology In this qualitative study, we conducted 43 semi-structured interviews, 4 focus group discussions, and 10 expert interviews with 76 participants. Data were collected in six affected districts with emergency mass vaccination. We included vulnerable groups (people ≥ 65 years and pregnant women) who are typically excluded from YF vaccination except during mass immunization. Data analysis was conducted using grounded theory. Inductive coding was utilized, progressing through open, axial, and selective coding. Principal findings Participants relied on community sources for information about the YF mass vaccination. Information was disseminated door-to-door, in community spaces, during religious gatherings, and on the radio. However, most respondents had no knowledge of the vaccine, and it was unclear to them whether a booster dose was required. In addition, the simultaneous presidential election during the mass vaccination campaign led to suspicion and resistance to vaccination. The lack of reliable and trustworthy information and the politicization of vaccination campaigns reinforced mistrust of YF vaccines. Conclusions/significance People in remote areas affected by YF outbreaks rely on community sources of information. We therefore recommend improving health education, communication, and engagement through respected and trusted community members. Vaccination campaigns can never be seen as detached from political systems and power relations. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lena Huebl Aloysious Nnyombi Aban Kihumuro Denis Lukwago Eddy Walakira Ruth Kutalek |
author_facet |
Lena Huebl Aloysious Nnyombi Aban Kihumuro Denis Lukwago Eddy Walakira Ruth Kutalek |
author_sort |
Lena Huebl |
title |
Perceptions of yellow fever emergency mass vaccinations among vulnerable groups in Uganda: A qualitative study. |
title_short |
Perceptions of yellow fever emergency mass vaccinations among vulnerable groups in Uganda: A qualitative study. |
title_full |
Perceptions of yellow fever emergency mass vaccinations among vulnerable groups in Uganda: A qualitative study. |
title_fullStr |
Perceptions of yellow fever emergency mass vaccinations among vulnerable groups in Uganda: A qualitative study. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Perceptions of yellow fever emergency mass vaccinations among vulnerable groups in Uganda: A qualitative study. |
title_sort |
perceptions of yellow fever emergency mass vaccinations among vulnerable groups in uganda: a qualitative study. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012173 https://doaj.org/article/ce7c1acdd017402881853f593fefa92f |
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Arctic |
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Arctic |
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Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
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PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 18, Iss 5, p e0012173 (2024) |
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https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0012173&type=printable https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2727 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2735 1935-2727 1935-2735 doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0012173 https://doaj.org/article/ce7c1acdd017402881853f593fefa92f |
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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012173 |
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