Vaccine hesitancy from parents and healthcare providers perspectives in Hadhramout Governorate, Yemen: a mixed-method study protocol

Abstract

IntroductionAlthough immunisation prevents the death of millions of infants and children each year, the vaccination coverage of routine childhood vaccination does not reach its target. The reasons for low vaccination uptake can be related to both demand and supply side determinants. The prevalence of vaccine hesitancy is increasing globally. However, data on vaccine hesitancy in low-income Arabic countries are scarce. To investigate this issue in Yemen, an Arabic low-income country, we aim to examine the link between vaccine hesitancy and the immunisation status of children living in Costal Hadhramout, Yemen, from the perspective of their parents and healthcare providers.Methods and analysisWe will use a mixed-method research design. The study will be conducted in Costal Hadhramout in three phases. Phase 1 will involve a situational analysis using secondary data from records of the national expanded immunisation programme in Costal Hadhramout to examine the trend for previous years. Phase 2 will be a quantitative study aimed at assessing the prevalence of vaccination status of children aged <2 years and the determinants of parental vaccine hesitancy perception through a validated questionnaire. Lastly, phase 3 will be a qualitative study that explores vaccine hesitancy in Yemen using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with parents and healthcare providers, respectively.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the Research Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia. The findings will be disseminated via publication in peer-reviewed academic journals, academic conferences and public presentations.

Immunization of Children under 2 Years Old in the Coastal Hadhramaut Governorate, Yemen, during Public Health Emergencies: A Trend Analysis of 2013–2020

“…This paper is part (phase 1) of 3 phases of a mixed-method study exploring parental vaccine hesitancy and childhood vaccination in coastal Hadhramaut, Yemen. The protocol of the methodology has already been published [ 5 ]. For the phase 1 study, a retrospective descriptive study was performed with written permission to use secondary data obtained from the Coastal Hadhramaut Health and Population Affairs Office in 2021, after being granted ethic approval on 18th February 2021.…”

“…Later, the data are entered into an Excel sheet for analysis and grouped to compile the data for the governorate. Then, the compilation is delivered to the Department of EPI at the Ministry of Public Health and Population to be reported as an annual report [ 5 , 26 ].…”

“…The Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) in Yemen was initiated in 1979 to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with VPDs. The EPI targets children under 1 year old, pregnant women, and women of reproductive age [ 5 ]. Childhood vaccination coverage in Yemen improved significantly since the EPI began.…”

“…The EPI targets children under 1 year old, pregnant women, and women of reproductive age [5]. Childhood vaccination coverage in Yemen improved significantly since the EPI began.…”

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the Chinese elderly: A multi-stakeholder qualitative study

“…Studies have primarily focused on vaccine-related staff, assessing their willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccine and identifying reasons for hesitancy. 25–27 However, owing to their professional knowledge, role as “opinion leaders”, and their crucial role in promoting vaccination for the elderly 28 – as of 2023, the National Health Commission’s Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention of the People’s Republic of China reported that, with the coordinated efforts of the government, the coverage of the elderly receiving COVID-19 vaccine within three months had reached 96.1% 29 – this underscores the importance of investigating the experiences and perspectives of these staff to inform more precise and effective interventions aimed at further boosting vaccination rates.…”