Trusted sources of information on COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic in Uganda. A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background. COVID-19 has dramatically impacted communities worldwide, especially in developing countries. To successfully control the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 80% vaccination coverage was required, and the flow of correct information to the population was critical. However, misinformation and disinformation could impact this, increasing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in some communities. Several studies have assessed the effect of misinformation and disinformation on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and other responses to the pandemic in the African continent. Thus, the most trusted sources of information on COVID-19 vaccines to the population is critical for successfully managing and controlling the pandemic. This study aimed to assess the most trusted sources of information on COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic in northern Uganda. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 587 adult population members in northern Uganda. Stratified and systematic sampling methods were used for selecting participants from twenty-four health facilities in the Acholi subregion. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire with an internal validity of Cronbach's α=0.72. A local IRB approved the study, and Stata version 18 was used for data analysis. A Pearson Chi-square (χ 2 ) analysis was conducted to assess the association between trusted sources of information on COVID-19 vaccines among study participants and selected independent variables. Fisher's exact test assessed association when cell value following cross-tabulation was ≤5. A P-value <0.05 was used as evidence for an association between the trusted sources of information and independent variables. All results were presented as frequencies and proportions and Chi-square or Fisher's exact test P-values at 95% Confidence Intervals (CI). Results: In a study of 587, most participants were males, 335(57.1%), in the age group of 25-34 years, 180(31.4%), and the most trusted source of information on COVID-19 vaccines were the traditional media sources such as Televisions, Radios, and Newspapers, 349(33.6%). There was no significant association between sex and sources of information on COVID-19 vaccines. However, by age group population, it was significantly associated with internet use (14.7% versus 85.3%; p=0.02), information from family members (9.4% versus 90.6%; p<0.01), and the Government/Ministry of Health (37.9% versus 62.1%; p<0.01). In addition, it was significantly associated with internet use (32.2% versus 67.8%; p=0.03), healthcare providers (32.5% versus 67.5%; p<0.018), the Government/Ministry of Health (31.1% versus 68.9%; p<0.01), and scientific articles (44.7% versus 55.3%; p<0.01) in healthcare workers compared to non-health workers. Conclusion. The most substantial finding from our study was that the most trusted sources of information on COVID-19 vaccines in northern Uganda were Television, Radio, and Newspapers. There were no significant differences in the most trusted sources of information on COVID-19 vaccines between the sexes but significant differences by age groups and occupations, with the younger age groups and non-healthcare workers having more trust in TVs, Radios, and Newspapers. For effective management of an epidemic, there is a need for accurate communication so that misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation do not disrupt the flow of information to communities.