| dc.description.abstract |
The COVID- 19 pandemic has highlighted
significant disparities in vaccine uptake across sub-
Saharan Africa, yet research exploring the regional
and country-specific factors influencing these rates
remains limited. Understanding these factors is crucial
for developing targeted regional and global public
health interventions to improve vaccination uptake and
strengthen pandemic preparedness. This study aims to
fill a critical knowledge gap by assessing the factors
influencing vaccination rates across sub-Saharan Africa at
the operational, systemic and socio-political levels.
Methods and analysis The study will employ a
comparative case study design across 12 African countries
to examine context-specific factors influencing pandemic
vaccine preparedness. The 12 selected countries (Angola,
Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Malawi,
Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and
Uganda) will be categorised by vaccination rate (high,
moderate or low). The study will integrate quantitative
and qualitative data to provide comprehensive insights.
Quantitative data, including COVID-19, macroeconomic,
health system and governance indicators, will be sourced
from reputable online portals, such as the WHO, the World
Bank and Our World in Data. Qualitative data will be
collected through key informant interviews with experts
across participating African countries, except Angola. Due
to delays in obtaining ethics approval in Angola, no primary
data collection including key informant interviews will be
conducted in Angola unless ethics approval is obtained.
Angola will therefore be included through a secondary data
approach, drawing on publicly available reports, published
literature and relevant case studies. All qualitative data will
be analysed using thematic analysis, and quantitative data
will be analysed using descriptive methods.
Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval was obtained
from Western University’s Health Sciences Research Ethics
Board (126398) and relevant bodies in the 11 participating
countries. Findings will be shared through reports to public health authorities, policy briefs and presentations at
academic conferences and peer-reviewed publications |
en_US |