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Most countries are currently gravitating towards vaccination as mainstay strategy to quell COVID-19 transmission. Between December 2020 and January 2021, we conducted a follow-up online survey in Somalia to monitor adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures, and COVID-19 vaccine acceptability and reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Adherence was measured via a composite adherence score based on four measures (physical distancing, face mask use, hand hygiene, and mouth covering when coughing/sneezing). We analyzed 4543 responses (mean age: 23.5 ± 6.4 years, 62.4% males). The mean adherence score during this survey was lower than the score during a similar survey in April 2020. A total of 76.8% of respondents were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Flu-like symptoms were more frequently reported in the current survey compared to previous surveys. Multiple logistic regression showed that participants who experienced flu-like symptoms, those in the healthcare sector, and those with higher adherence scores had higher odds for vaccine acceptability while being a female reduced the willingness to be vaccinated. In conclusion, our data suggest that the decreasing adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures may have caused increased flu-like symptoms over time. COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Somalia is relatively high but could be improved by addressing factors that contribute to vaccine hesitancy.
Mohammed Ahmed; Robert Colebunders; Abdi Gele; Abdiqani Farah; Shariff Osman; Ibraahim Guled; Aweis Abdullahi; Ahmed Hussein; Abdiaziz Ali; Joseph Siewe Fodjo. COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptability and Adherence to Preventive Measures in Somalia: Results of an Online Survey. Vaccines 2021, 9, 543 .
AMA StyleMohammed Ahmed, Robert Colebunders, Abdi Gele, Abdiqani Farah, Shariff Osman, Ibraahim Guled, Aweis Abdullahi, Ahmed Hussein, Abdiaziz Ali, Joseph Siewe Fodjo. COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptability and Adherence to Preventive Measures in Somalia: Results of an Online Survey. Vaccines. 2021; 9 (6):543.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohammed Ahmed; Robert Colebunders; Abdi Gele; Abdiqani Farah; Shariff Osman; Ibraahim Guled; Aweis Abdullahi; Ahmed Hussein; Abdiaziz Ali; Joseph Siewe Fodjo. 2021. "COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptability and Adherence to Preventive Measures in Somalia: Results of an Online Survey." Vaccines 9, no. 6: 543.
Following the COVID-19 outbreak in Somalia, strict preventive measures were implemented by the government. We assessed adherence to the government recommendations via two consecutive online cross-sectional surveys between April and July 2020. A five-point adherence score was constructed based on self-reported observance of five preventive measures (physical distancing, face mask use, hand hygiene, mouth covering when coughing/sneezing, and avoidance of touching the face). 4124 and 4703 responses were analyzed during the first and second survey, respectively. The mean adherence score decreased from 3.54 ± 1.5 in the first survey to 3.40 ± 1.6 during the second survey; p < 0.001. More participants experienced at least one flu-like symptom during the second survey (38.2%) compared to the first (16.2%); however, the proportion of positive COVID-19 tests in the first (26.9%) and second survey (26.5%) was similar. The ordinal logistic regression model identified the following predictors for high adherence scores: female gender (odds ratio (OR) = 1.715 (1.581–1.861), p < 0.001); being a healthcare worker/student (OR = 2.180 (2.000–2.377), p < 0.001); obtaining COVID-19 information from official sources (OR = 1.460 (1.341–1.589), p < 0.001); and having postgraduate education (OR = 1.679 (1.220–2.307), p < 0.001). Conversely, obtaining COVID-19 information from social media and residing in urban settings were associated with lower adherence. Targeted and context-specific adaptations of the COVID-19 response may be required in Somalia.
Mohammed A. M. Ahmed; Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo; Abdi A. Gele; Abdiqani A. Farah; Shariff Osman; Ibraahim Abdullahi Guled; Abdiaziz Mohamed Ali; Robert Colebunders. COVID-19 in Somalia: Adherence to Preventive Measures and Evolution of the Disease Burden. Pathogens 2020, 9, 735 .
AMA StyleMohammed A. M. Ahmed, Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Abdi A. Gele, Abdiqani A. Farah, Shariff Osman, Ibraahim Abdullahi Guled, Abdiaziz Mohamed Ali, Robert Colebunders. COVID-19 in Somalia: Adherence to Preventive Measures and Evolution of the Disease Burden. Pathogens. 2020; 9 (9):735.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohammed A. M. Ahmed; Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo; Abdi A. Gele; Abdiqani A. Farah; Shariff Osman; Ibraahim Abdullahi Guled; Abdiaziz Mohamed Ali; Robert Colebunders. 2020. "COVID-19 in Somalia: Adherence to Preventive Measures and Evolution of the Disease Burden." Pathogens 9, no. 9: 735.
One reason underpinning the global magnitude of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is its transmissibility by asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic persons (Gandhi et al., 2020Gandhi M. Yokoe D.S. Havlir D.V. Asymptomatic transmission, the achilles’ heel of current strategies to control Covid-19.N Engl J Med. 2020; (NEJMe2009758)Crossref Scopus (117) Google Scholar). Thus, early detection and isolation of infected individuals are crucial for containing the ongoing pandemic. Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends surveillance by screening for acute respiratory illness with/without fever, and/or recent contact with COVID-infected individuals or communities (World Health Organization, 2020aWorld Health Organization Global surveillance for COVID-19 caused by human infection with COVID-19 virus: interim guidance. published online March, 2020Google Scholar). We applied the WHO COVID-19 case definition in Somalia and suggest ways to improve its performance.
Mohammed Am Ahmed; Robert Colebunders; Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo. Evidence for significant COVID-19 community transmission in Somalia using a clinical case definition. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 2020, 98, 206 -207.
AMA StyleMohammed Am Ahmed, Robert Colebunders, Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo. Evidence for significant COVID-19 community transmission in Somalia using a clinical case definition. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2020; 98 ():206-207.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohammed Am Ahmed; Robert Colebunders; Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo. 2020. "Evidence for significant COVID-19 community transmission in Somalia using a clinical case definition." International Journal of Infectious Diseases 98, no. : 206-207.