Exploring Factors Influencing Ebola Vaccine Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers in Port of Entry (POE) Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study from 2021-2022

Authors

  • Mohamed Sannoh Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei City, Anhui Province, 2300032, China
  • Harry Asena Musonye Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei City, Anhui Province, 2300032, China
  • Abdulai Augustus Brima Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei City, Anhui Province, 2300032, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314.3.8

Abstract

Background: This study investigated the factors influencing Ebola vaccine hesitancy among healthcare professionals in Port of Entry (POE), Sierra Leone.

Methods: This study adapted a qualitative cross-sectional research design involving 731 health care workers (HCWs) in the 12 POE districts drawn from primary healthcare and referral hospitals. A multivariable logistic regression was used to identify vaccine hesitancy.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 38.67 with a standard deviation of 9.76. Out of the 731 study participants, 190 were vaccinated with Ad26.ZEBOV and MVA-BN-Filo, while 541 remained unvaccinated. Notably, some health facilities (HFs) were not reached by the vaccination team. Additionally, 325 of HCWs obtained information about the EVD vaccine from social media. A considerable number 113 of HCWs believed that the EVD vaccine would not adequately protect them from EVD. Furthermore ,720 and 664 HCWs expressed the need for additional improvements in terms of awareness campaigns, recommending the EVD vaccine to the community, and enhancing the mobile team vaccination program.

Conclusion: There was evident of EVD vaccine hesitancy among HCWs in the POE districts. This study’s findings are important as they may inform targeted interventions and strategies to enhance vaccine acceptance among HCWs in POE Sierra Leone, thereby mitigating the impact of Ebola outbreaks in the region.

Keyword: Ebola Virus Disease; Point of Entry; Ebola Vaccine; HealthCare Worker

Downloads

Published

2026-06-12

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 3 (2026): May 2026

Section

Original Articles

License

Submission of manuscripts to the Sierra Leone Journal of Biomedical Research is of the understanding that the article either in part or whole is not under consideration for publication in any other Journal. Accepted papers become the permanent property of Sierra Leone Journal of Biomedical Research but unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium is permitted, provided the original work is properly cited.