Religious Belief, Reference Group and Ethnicity as Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Port Harcourt Nigeria
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Date
2024-12
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Lead City University, Ibadan
Abstract
This study examines religious beliefs, reference group influence, and ethnicity as determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among residents of Port-Harcourt. The study investigates how religious beliefs influence COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among Port Harcourt residents, how reference groups influence COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Port Harcourt residents, and whether ethnicity influences COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Port Harcourt residents. To further explain, the diffusion of innovation theory was applied. The population was taken from three communities in the Obio-Akpor LGA, and an ex post facto research design was adopted. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, the Slovin formula n=N% (1 + Ne 2) was used to get a sample size of 400, of which 380 were eventually responded to and returned. Data were collected using a standardized survey instrument developed by the SAGE working group with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.90. Three hypotheses were evaluated at the 0.05 level of significance and analysed using linear regression statistical analysis. The findings revealed that religious belief does not significantly predict COVID- 19 vaccine hesitancy [F (1,366) =.686, P >.05]. There is no significant influence of the reference group on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy [F (1,367) =.000, P>.05], and ethnicity does not significantly determine COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy [F (1,366) =.858, P>.055]. Vaccine hesitancy can become harmful to society if it is not controlled. Hence, governments and health organizations should work together to combat vaccine disinformation and misinformation through health campaigns.
Keywords: COVID-19, Vaccine Hesitancy, Religious Beliefs, Reference Group and Ethnicity.
Word Count: 230
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Keywords
COVID-19, Vaccine Hesitancy, Religious Beliefs, Reference Group and Ethnicity.
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Kate Turabia