Knowledge and Readiness of Community Health Volunteers to Lead Sensitization of Communities on COVID-19 Vaccination in Kenya: A Cross sectional Study

Abstract

Background Vaccination is anticipated to bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an ultimate end. Community health volunteers (CHVs) are the link between communities and the formal health system and are therefore a vital factor in successful vaccine rollout in Kenya. However, the ability of CHVs to lead community sensitization on COVID-19 vaccination was uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of CHVs on COVID-19 vaccination, and determine if their knowledge is adequate to lead sensitization of communities in the national COVID-19 vaccination programme. Methods This was a mixed methods study comprising a cross-sectional survey and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were collected from 413 CHVs in four counties of Kenya through telephone interviews; 12 key informants were also interviewed through telephone interviews. SPSS version 25.0 and R script programming were utilised to analyse quantitative data. Qualitative data were analyzed using MAXQDA software. Results Of 413 CHVs surveyed, 82.3% felt inadequately informed to engage with communities on COVID-19 vaccination. There was a significant difference in the level of knowledge between CHVs in urban compared to rural counties (P=0.0005). The level of knowledge was also higher among more educated CHVs compared to less educated CHVs (OR=3.04, 95% CI: 2.47-3.61; p < 0.001). Knowledge on COVID-19 vaccine was higher in CHVs who had previously received accredited training on COVID-19 (OR=1.86, 95% CI: 1.28-2.45; p < 0.001) and this had a significant influence on CHV’s willingness to be vaccinated. CHVs with higher levels of knowledge were more likely to express readiness to engage with communities on COVID-19 vaccination than those with lesser knowledge (P=0.0001). Conclusion CHVs in four counties of Kenya did not have adequate knowledge on COVID-19 vaccination which is a major constraint to their work of mobilising communities to accept COVID-19 vaccination.