Knowledge and attitudes about Ebola vaccine among the general population in Sierra Leone

Abstract

Background: Clinical trials of Ebola vaccine are ongoing. Before it becomes commercially available, understanding the Ebola vaccine-related knowledge and attitude of the general population is imperative to developing an effective vaccine coverage strategy.

Methods: We conducted a survey including 400 participants from general communities of the West Area Rural District, Sierra Leone. Knowledge and attitudes about Ebola vaccine were investigated, and the determinants of having knowledge and a positive attitude toward accepting vaccination were identified.

Results: Over half (55.8%) of the participants were aware of Ebola vaccine. About 60% of the participants were willing to be study subjects if the Ebola vaccine clinical trial were conducted in their communities. Most of the participants (72.5%) were willing to take Ebola vaccination if it was free of charge. Given that the vaccination was not free, the proportion willing to pay a fee to take the vaccination declined dramatically to 26.6%. Using a forward step-wise logistic model, monthly salary was identified as the single determinant (OR for every 100,000 Leones increase: 1.17, 95%CI: 1.04-1.31) for awareness of Ebola vaccine, which was identified as the determinant (OR: 1.88, 95%CI: 1.17-3.02) for free vaccination uptake willingness. The combination of monthly salary, monthly average income of family members and their interaction was found to be associated with charged vaccination uptake willingness.

Discussion: Measures are still needed to promote the Ebola vaccine awareness and knowledge updating. Free or low-priced vaccine could increase the vaccination acceptability of the general community population significantly.

Keywords: Attitude; Ebola; General population; Knowledge; Sierra Leone; Vaccine.