COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Midwifery Survey Into Attitudes Towards the COVID-19 Vaccine

Abstract Background: Ethnic minority populations have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerging evidence suggests a lower uptake of the vaccine in ethnic minority populations, particularly Black females of reproductive age. Midwives are the principal healthcare professionals responsible for counselling the pregnant population on decisions relating to vaccine uptake. The aim of this study was to explore midwifery uptake of and attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine in two ethnically diverse areas.Methods: A 45-point questionnaire was circulated over a six-week period to midwives employed in two teaching hospitals in England; London (Barts Health NHS Trust) and Sussex (Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH)). A total of 278 out of 868 midwives responded. Results were analysed to determine vaccine uptake as well as factors influencing vaccine hesitancy and decision-making between the two trusts and ethnic groups. Thematic analysis was also undertaken. Results: Midwives of black ethnicity were over 4-times less likely to have received a COVID-19 vaccine compared to white ethnicity midwives (52% vs 85%, OR=0.22, p<0.001). Overall, there were no significant differences between trusts in receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine (p=0.13). Midwives at Barts Health were significantly more likely to have tested positive for COVID-19 compared to midwives at BSUH (OR=2.47, p=0.01). There was no statistical difference between ethnicities in testing positive for COVID-19 (p=0.86). Midwives at Barts Health had a higher occurrence of concerns relating to the vaccine being developed too fast (OR=2.06, p=0.01), allowing the government to track individuals (OR=9.13, p=0.001), interfering with fertility (OR=2.02, p=0.03), or transmitting the virus (OR=7.22, p=0.006), compared to BSUH. Black midwives had a higher occurrence of all concerns examined compared to white midwives; the most pronounced difference was in concerns relating to the long-term effects of the vaccine (adjusted OR=4.97, p<0.001), concerns relating to the speed in which the vaccine was developed (adjusted OR=5.59, p<0.001) and concerns regarding the vaccine containing meat products (adjusted OR=6.31, p<0.001).Conclusion: This study highlights the significantly higher level of vaccine hesitancy amongst black ethnicity midwives and offer insights into midwives’ views and concerns to facilitate future targeted public health interventions for the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Influence of Health Beliefs on COVID-19 Vaccination among Individuals with Cancer and Other Comorbidities in Puerto Rico

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9090994 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 994

Author(s):

McClaren Rodriguez ◽

Andrea López-Cepero ◽

Ana P. Ortiz-Martínez ◽

Emma Fernández-Repollet ◽

Cynthia M. Pérez

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Ethnic Minority ◽

Health Beliefs ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Online Survey ◽

Vaccine Uptake ◽

Minority Populations ◽

Diagnosis Of Cancer ◽

Ethnic Minority Populations ◽

Chronic Comorbidities

Ethnic minority populations are more likely to suffer from chronic comorbidities, making them more susceptible to the poor health outcomes associated with COVID-19 infection. Therefore, ensuring COVID-19 vaccination among vulnerable populations is of utmost importance. We aimed to investigate health behaviors and perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination among adults self-reporting diagnosis of cancer and of other chronic comorbidities in Puerto Rico (PR). This secondary analysis used data from 1911 participants who completed an online survey from December 2020 to February 2021. The Health Belief Model was used to measure perceptions surrounding COVID-19 vaccination among individuals self-reporting diagnosis of cancer and of other chronic comorbidities, and healthy adults. Among study participants, 76% were female, 34% were 50 years or older, 5% self-reported cancer diagnosis, and 70% had other chronic comorbidities. Participants self-reporting a cancer diagnosis had two times higher odds of getting vaccinated than healthy individuals (95% CI: 1.00–4.30). Compared to healthy participants, those self-reporting being diagnosed with cancer and those with chronic conditions other than cancer had significantly higher perceived COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. Our findings elucidate the effect of disease status on health-related decision-making and highlights information needed to be included in education campaigns to increase vaccine uptake among ethnic minority populations.

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Now Available!: Psychological Treatment of Ethnic Minority Populations by The Council of National Psychological Associations for the Advancement of Ethnic Minority Interests (CNPAAEMI)

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e491172006-016 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Ethnic Minority ◽

Psychological Treatment ◽

Minority Populations ◽

Ethnic Minority Populations ◽

Minority Interests

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Challenging Myths about the Mental Health of Ethnic Minority Populations

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e501562012-020 ◽

2007 ◽

Author(s):

Stanley Sue

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Ethnic Minority ◽

Minority Populations ◽

Ethnic Minority Populations

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Community-centred interventions for improving public mental health among adults from ethnic minority populations in the UK: a scoping review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041102 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. e041102

Author(s):

Cleo Baskin ◽

Geiske Zijlstra ◽

Mike McGrath ◽

Caroline Lee ◽

Fiona Helen Duncan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Ethnic Minority ◽

Minority Groups ◽

Public Mental Health ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Minority Populations ◽

Ethnic Minority Groups ◽

Ethnic Minority Populations ◽

The Uk ◽

Intervention Description

ObjectivesUndertake a scoping review to determine the effectiveness of community-centred interventions designed to improve the mental health and well-being of adults from ethnic minority groups in the UK.MethodsWe searched six electronic academic databases for studies published between January 1990 and September 2019: Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, Scopus, CINAHL and Cochrane. For intervention description and data extraction we used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist and Template for Intervention Description and Replication guide. Quality was assessed using Cochrane risk of bias tools. Grey literature results were deemed beyond the scope of this review due to the large number of interventions and lack of available outcomes data.ResultsOf 4501 studies, 7 met the eligibility criteria of UK-based community interventions targeting mental health in adults from ethnic minority populations: four randomised controlled trials, one pre/post-pilot study, one cross-sectional study and one ethnographic study. Interventions included therapy-style sessions, peer-support groups, educational materials, gym access and a family services programme. Common components included a focus on tackling social isolation, using lay health workers from within the community, signposting and overcoming structural barriers to access. Four studies reported a statistically significant positive effect on mental health outcomes and six were appraised as having a high risk of bias. Study populations were ethnically heterogeneous and targeted people mainly from South Asia. No studies examined interventions targeting men.ConclusionsThere is a paucity of high-quality evidence regarding community-centred interventions focused on improving public mental health among ethnic minority groups. Decision makers need scientific evidence to inform effective approaches to mitigating health disparities. Our next steps are to map promising community activities and interventions that are currently being provided to help identify emerging evidence.

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