Individual Factors Associated with Uptake of Covid Vaccine Among Matatu Crew in Meru Matatu Stage, Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

The uptake of COVID-19 vaccines is an essential aspect towards enabling effective control on the spread of the virus. It is important that matatu crew, together with the vulnerable groups should receive vaccination to lower the incidence and disease transmission rate. In the Covid 19 vaccination campaign this group has been greatly sidelined. The study is aimed at determining individual factors that predict uptake of the Corona Virus 19 vaccine amongst the Matatu crew in Meru matatu stage. The study population was Matatu crew in Meru matatu stage. Sampling size determination was done using the Fischer’s formula. The sampling technique was systematic among the drivers, touts and conductors in Meru Matatu stage, while purposive selection was done among the key informants. The study used of questionnaire for quantitative and for qualitative data collection an interview guide was used. Data analysis from the self-administered questionnaire was analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics like frequencies and proportions. Chi-square analysis was used to capture associations amongst the categorical variables. Further, statistical significance was placed at p<0.05. Qualitative data was analyzed through the use of thematic analysis. Results were presented in tables, pie charts and bar graphs for ease of understanding. The study found a low uptake of Covid 19 vaccine among the Matatu operators. Individual characteristics such age (χ2=11.94, α=0.008), duty (χ2=99.98, α=0.00) marital status (χ2=35.891, α=0.00), education level (χ2=32.39, α=0.00), gender (χ2=9.021, α=0.002) were significantly associated with low COVID 19 uptake among the Matatu Crew operators. The study concluded that there was low uptake of Covid -19 vaccine among the Matatu crew in Meru and this was affected mostly by the individual characters of the crew. From the findings, the study recommended that the county health team should involve and train the Sacco official to deliver the Covid 19 vaccine. Further research should be done to determine other social mechanisms of improving Vaccine uptake and reducing mi nformation towards emergency vaccines.