Assessing Vaccine Confidence Using the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women at Risk of HIV Acquisition Living in Uganda, Zambia, and South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Vaccine hesitancy (VH) remains a major threat to global health that can reverse the progress in tackling vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccine uptake among adolescent Girls and young women (AGYW) is often low. We assessed VH using a validated scale among AGYW in Uganda, Zambia, and South Africa.

Methods

From June 2023 to February 2024, we recruited AGYW from fishing communities in Uganda, urban and peri-urban locations in Lusaka and Ndola, Zambia, and mining communities in Rustenburg, South Africa. Eligible participants were aged 15-24 years, sexually active, and HIV-negative but at risk for HIV acquisition. We collected demographic, HIV-related behavioral data, and vaccine hesitancy data using a structured questionnaire. Vaccine confidence was assessed using the

SUBMITTER: Kyakuwa N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12656744 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature