Knowledge and Determinants of Vaccine Hesitancy among Residents of Ifako Ijaiye LGA, Lagos State

Abstract

Vaccine hesitancy poses a significant challenge to public health efforts in Nigeria. However, vaccine hesitancy is not a matter of chance; such an attitude is shaped by a myriad of factors, among which the knowledge of vaccines plays a complex and sometimes paradoxical role in shaping attitudes toward vaccine uptake. Thus, this study assessed the knowledge and determinants of vaccine hesitancy among residents of Ifako-Ijaiye LGA, Lagos State. The study adopts a cross-sectional survey design, and a total of 427 respondents were selected through a multi-stage sampling. Data was collected using a well-structured questionnaire over a period of three months (June-August, 2025). The retrieved questionnaire was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0, and the p-value was set at <0.05. The findings of the study showed that two-thirds of the respondents had good knowledge of vaccination, and 77.4% of the respondents noted that vaccines are easily accessible in their area. Prevalence rate of vaccine hesitancy observed in Ifako-Ijaiye LGA was 14.30%. Factors such as trust in healthcare institutions, knowledge of vaccinations, and occupation were found to be significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy. The study concludes that vaccine hesitancy is not merely a product of insufficient knowledge but arises from the interplay of religious identity, educational background, economic conditions, and most critically, levels of trust in vaccine safety.