Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among undergraduate students in Kenya: a case study of the University of Nairobi

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among undergraduates in Kenyan universities

Design: Evaluation design

Setting: University of Nairobi’s Main Campus, Nairobi, Kenya.

Subjects: Undergraduate students at the University of Nairobi

Background: The fight against COVID-19 pandemic has utilized the information model for behavior change. The prevention behavior to adopt included wearing masks, keeping social distance and the COVID-19 vaccine uptake. However, there is still a knowledge-behavior among high-risk groups like the youth. Based on the Integrated Model of Behavior Prediction, the study sought to evaluate the determinants for the COVID vaccine uptake among undergraduates.

Materials & Methods: A survey of undergraduates at the University of Nairobi’s Main campus was conducted with a systematic selection of a sample using students class registers.

Results: From 384 respondents, the study found that the uptake of coronavirus vaccine was positively correlated with COVID-19 saliency (r=0.211), skills and competency (r=0.146), behavioral intentions (r=0.159) and environmental factors (r=0.211).

Conclusion: The uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among undergraduate students in Kenya is determined by all factors in the Integrated Model of Behavior Prediction such as vaccine saliency, behavioral intentions, environmental constraints and skills and competency. Therefore, increasing the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among undergraduates may involve addressing all these factors.