Charura, Divine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3509-9392, Hill, Andrew P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6370-8901 and Etherson, Marianne ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0339-2324 (2022) COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy, Medical Mistrust, and Mattering in Ethnically Diverse Communities. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 10. pp. 1518-1525.

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Abstract

Objectives
Uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine continues to be lower in ethnically diverse communities in the UK even though they are disproportionally affected by the negative effects of the virus. To better understand why uptake is lower, we explored factors that may underpin vaccine hesitancy and intention to vaccinate in these communities with an emphasis on medical mistrust and feelings of mattering.

Design
One hundred and sixty-one adults from ethnically diverse backgrounds who had not had a COVID-19 vaccination completed an online questionnaire that contained closed (quantitative) and open (qualitative) questions.

Results
Analyses of quantitative questions revealed that medical mistrust, but not feelings of mattering, was related to COVID-19 hesitancy and likelihood of getting a COVID-19 vaccination. Of the three components of medical mistrust, suspicion was the only unique predictor and was related to higher hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine and lower likelihood of getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Analyses of the responses to the qualitative questions were organised into four themes: (1) Beliefs that taking the vaccine is an important social responsibility; (2) Experiences of pressure to take the vaccine and limited choice; (3) General mistrust linked to personal experiences and the health system; (4) Being concerned about social/medical restrictions if not vaccinated.

Conclusion
The findings suggest that medical mistrust may partly explain why uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine is lower in ethnically diverse communities in the UK and appears to play a role in how people weigh a sense of responsibility and pressure against health and social concerns in making the decision to be vaccinated.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Published
DOI:	10.1007/s40615-022-01337-z
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF501-505 Motivation R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
School/Department:	School of Education, Language and Psychology
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/6431

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