COVID-19 Vaccination Among Diverse Population Groups in the Northern Governorates of Iraq

• Published in: International journal of public health Vol. 68; p. 1605736
• Main Authors: Gubari, Mohammed Ibrahim Mohialdeen, Wadi, Falah, Hama-Ghareeb, Khalid Anwar, Fatah, Fatah H., Hosseini, Mostafa, Wale, Karzan Rafiq, Hipgrave, David, Ali, Sazan Raouf, Mahmood, Shaho Osman, Ezzat Khadium, Waleed, Mohammed, Hayman Hasan, Jaafer, Sara Feal, Al Saadi, Najeeb Mohammed, Mohammed, Kardar Anwar, Saeed, Shireen Salih, Mohammad, Mohammad Yousif, Khudhur, Waleed Hamid, Wael Saleh, Mohammed, Sheat, Yousra Saadi, Ibrahim, Khaldoon Khaleel, Nabeil Salah, Marwa, Abdullah, Abdulmonem Hazim, Omer, Dashne Shamall, Ghafur, Rafeeq Naseraldeen, Mustafa, Kashma Ali, Faraj, Aryan Othman, Ali, Trifa Bhjat, Aziz Enayat, Kamal, Wahab, Ronak Assi, Ali Al-Jaf, Ibrahim Ahmed, Hama Amin, Nazanin Hama, Jaff, Dina Dlshad, Bra, Aram Mohammed, Ahmed, Shwan Kanabi, Rasool, Banaz Nabi, Jamal, Fatimah Khalis, Mohammed, Tango Dhahir, Azeez, Maryam Arab
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 28.11.2023
• Subjects: Adult; coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 vaccine; COVID-19 Vaccines; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Iraq - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Population Groups; Public Health Archive; sociodemographic factors; Vaccination; vaccination acceptance; vaccine hesitancy; Young Adult; Iraq; sociodemographic factors; vaccine hesitancy; COVID-19 vaccine; coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); vaccination acceptance
• ISSN: 1661-8564; 1661-8556; 1661-8564
• DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1605736

Objectives: The present study was carried out to investigate COVID-19 vaccination coverage among populations of internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and host communities in northern Iraq and the related underlying factors. Methods: Through a cross-sectional study conducted in five governorates in April–May 2022, 4,564 individuals were surveyed. Data were collected through an adapted questionnaire designed to gather data on participants. Results: 4,564 subjects were included (59.55% were 19–45 years old; 54.51% male). 50.48% of the participants (51.49% of host communities, 48.83% of IDPs, and 45.87% of refugees) had been vaccinated with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. 40.84% of participants (42.28% of host communities, 35.75% of IDPs, and 36.14% of refugees) had been vaccinated by two doses, and 1.56% (1.65% of host communities, 0.93% of IDPs, and 1.46% of refugees) were vaccinated with three doses. Conclusion: Sociodemographic factors including age, gender, education, occupation, and nationality could affect vaccination coverage. Moreover, higher acceptance rate of vaccination is associated with belief in vaccine safety and effectiveness and trust in the ability of the vaccine to prevent complications.