An Instrumental Variable Probit Modeling of COVID-19 Vaccination Compliance in Malawi.

Abayomi Samuel Oyekale,Thonaeng Charity Maselwa

doi:10.3390/ijerph182413129

Abayomi Samuel Oyekale, Thonaeng Charity Maselwa

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413129

Copy DOI

Abstract

COVID-19 remains a pressing development concern in Malawi. The third wave of viral infection upsurge raised significant concerns on people’s compliance with preventive methods already introduced by the government, among which vaccination is notable. This study analysed the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination compliance in Malawi. The data were the ninth round of the telephone-based survey that was conducted by Malawi National Statistical Office (NSO) in 2021. The data were analysed with Instrumental Variable Probit model. The results showed that awareness of COVID-19 vaccines arrival was very high (98.19%). Additionally, 11.59% and 60.71% were already vaccinated and planning to be vaccinated, respectively. The Probit regression results showed that age of household heads, need of medical services, being worried of contracting COVID-19 and wearing of masks increased the probability of vaccination compliance, while stress indicators, being employed and not worried at all of contracting COVID-19 reduced it. It was concluded that drastic behaviour change would be needed to address corona virus pandemic in Malawi. There is the need to ensure equity across different age groups in access to vaccines. Further, interventions to ensure proper assessment of an individual’s COVID-19 risk and address psychological and emotional stress that are associated with ongoing pandemic would enhance vaccination compliance.

Highlights

Malawi is currently among the African countries with very low COVID-19 positive cases and reported deaths, the recent spike of positive cases in ongoing third wave may be severely devastating, with perplexing socio-economic consequences
The efficiency dichotomy in healthcare service delivery between Malawi’s rural and urban areas reemphasizes the magnitude of prevailing inequity and rural emergency unpreparedness should COVID-19 infections go beyond the borders of urban and periurban centers [2]
In Models 1 and 2, out of the protective behaviour variables, only wearing of mask parameters are statistically significant (p < 0.05). These results show that those respondents who were wearing masks whenever they were among crowds of people had significantly higher probabilities of being vaccinated or vaccination compliance

Summary

Introduction

Malawi is currently among the African countries with very low COVID-19 positive cases and reported deaths, the recent spike of positive cases in ongoing third wave may be severely devastating, with perplexing socio-economic consequences. Assessing the vulnerability of Malawians to COVID-19 in the wake of recent viral spike beckons at several healthcare service delivery indicators. The efficiency dichotomy in healthcare service delivery between Malawi’s rural and urban areas reemphasizes the magnitude of prevailing inequity and rural emergency unpreparedness should COVID-19 infections go beyond the borders of urban and periurban centers [2]. Uncontrolled COVID-19 infections in Malawi will obviously put significant pressure on the prospects of economic growth and health policy efficiency, given the magnitude of the projected impacts of lockdowns on the entire economy [3]. The African Development Bank [5] submitted that

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion