Acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers in Sudan

Several studies have investigated COVID-19 vaccine acceptability and hesitancy, especially among healthcare workers (HCWs). However, acceptability of the vaccine by HCWs in Sudan remains unclear.

We investigated acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine and its determinants among HCWs in Sudan.

Using a semi-structured questionnaire, we conducted a web-based cross-sectional study of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its associated determinants among healthcare workers in Sudan during March-April 2021.

A total of 576 HCWs responded to the survey. Mean age was 35 years. Females (53.3%), medical doctors (55.4%) and being located in Khartoum State (76.0%) each accounted for more than half of the participants. Absolute refusal of the COVID-19 vaccine was expressed by 16.0% of the respondents. Males were more than twice as likely to accept the vaccine as females. Lower acceptability was statistically significantly associated with the nurses (OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.15-0.82, P < 0.001), increased perceived harm from the vaccine (OR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.05-0.23, P < 0.001), lack of confidence in the source of the vaccine (OR = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.08-0.31, P < 0.001) and lack of confidence in organizations or government sectors supervising the vaccination process (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.17-0.58, P < 0.001).

This study highlights a moderate level of COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among HCWs in Sudan. Special consideration should be given to addressing vaccine hesitancy among female HCWs and nurses.