Levels of handwashing and vaccine uptake in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to prevent and control COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis
| dc.contributor.author | Muchangi, Josphat Martin | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mturi, James | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mukasa, Hajra | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kithuki, Kioko | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kosgei, Sarah Jebet | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kanyangi, Lennah Muhoja | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mararo, Rogers | |
| dc.contributor.author | Nankanja, Maureen | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2023-11-24T10:55:11Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2023-11-24T10:55:11Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2023-11 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Abstract IntroductionCoronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents a massive challenge in Africa due to overwhelmed and underresourced health systems, as well as the existing burden of communicable and non- communicable diseases. Self-inoculation may occur when an individual touches their mucous membrane following direct contact between their hands and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-contaminated surfaces. Therefore, handwashing can be used along with COVID-19 vaccines to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and the burden of COVID-19. We were interested in investigating the levels of handwashing and vaccine uptake to control and prevent COVID-19 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania using a systematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsWe searched PubMed, African Index Medicus and African Journals Online for studies published since inception to 31st January 2023. We included all studies that assessed: the levels of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitance as indicators of vaccine uptake; and studies on the levels of handwashing to prevent and control COVID-19 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Study findings were synthesized by meta-analysis to get the pooled effect measure. Three studies were synthesized qualitatively due to high level of heterogeneity in effect measure precluding a quantitative meta-analysis.ResultsOur search identified 128 articles of which 17 studies with 18,305 participants and 622 vaccination sites were reviewed with 14 of them being meta-analyzed. This systematic review and meta-analysis reports high levels of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and handwashing in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania at 67% (95% CI: 55, 78) and 88% (95% CI: 73, 97), respectively. Vaccine hesitance among the participants was low at 31% (95% CI: 15, 49).DiscussionDespite their importance in the control and prevention of COVID-19, some countries do not implement handwashing and vaccination effectively. There is a need for public health strategies to raise awareness about the importance of handwashing and the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, PROSPERO ID CRD42023394698. | en_US |
| dc.description.sponsorship | The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was funded by Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The funding body did not have any role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.citation | Muchangi, Josphat Martin, James Mturi, Hajra Mukasa, et al. 'Levels of Handwashing and Vaccine Uptake in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to Prevent and Control COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis', Frontiers in Public Health, vol. 11/(2023), . | en_US |
| dc.identifier.issn | ISSN 2296-2565 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | EISSN 2296-2565 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/9374 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. | en_US |
| dc.subject | handwashing, vaccine, COVID-19, prevention, control, policy, Kenya, Uganda | en_US |
| dc.title | Levels of handwashing and vaccine uptake in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to prevent and control COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis | en_US |
| dc.type | Article | en_US |