Abstract:
Vaccination is the most cost-effective way of preventing Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19) although there was a considerable delay in its institution in Tanzania. This
study assessed health care workers’ (HCWs) self-perceived infection risk and uptake of
COVID-19 vaccines. A concurrent embedded, mixed methods design was utilized to collect
data among HCWs in seven Tanzanian regions. Quantitative data was collected using a validated, pre-piloted, interviewer administered questionnaire whereas in-depth interviews
(IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) gathered qualitative data. Descriptive analyses
were performed while chi-square test and logistic regression were used to test for associations across categories. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. A total
of 1,368 HCWs responded to the quantitative tool, 26 participated in the IDIs and 74 in
FGDs. About half of the HCW (53.6%) reported to have been vaccinated and three quarters
(75.5%) self-perceived to be at a high risk of acquiring COVID-19 infection. High perceived
infection risk was associated with increased COVID-19 vaccine uptake (OR 1.535). Participants perceived that the nature of their work and the working environment in the health facilities increased their infection risk. Limited availability and use of personal protective
equipment (PPE) was reported to elevate the perceived infection risks. Participants in the
oldest age group and from low and mid-level health care facilities had higher proportions
with a high-risk perception of acquiring COVID-19 infection. Only about half of the HCWs reported to be vaccinated albeit the majority recounted higher perception of risk to contracting COVID-19 due to their working environment, including limited availability and use of
PPE. Efforts to address heightened perceived-risks should include improving the working
environment, availability of PPE and continue updating HCWs on the benefits of COVID-19
vaccine to limit their infection risks and consequent transmission to their patients and public.
