COVID-19 hesitancy and vaccine attitudes among African American and Nigerian college students

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined COVID-19 attitudes and vaccine hesitancy among African American and Nigerian college students (N=189). African American and Nigerian college students were sampled from regional universities within the United States and Nigeria. Participants completed the World Health Organization (WHO) Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS; 2014) and sociodemographic questions to assess attitudes, primarily vaccination hesitancy, toward COVID-19 vaccination. Independent t tests revealed no significant differences between the nationalities and any hesitancy in taking the COVID-19 vaccine (t(167)=.334, p=.739). However, there was a significant effect for trust in the COVID-19 vaccine (t(174)=-3.42, p=<.001), with American students (M=0.59; SD=0.50) showing more trust than Nigerian students (M=0.34; SD=0.48). In addition, there was a significant effect for the overall general support of vaccines, t(176)=2.43 p=.016, with Nigerian students (M=0.86; SD=0.35) showing more favor than American students (M=0.71; SD=0.46). Additional analyses associated with the cross-cultural comparisons were conducted and discussed.