Page 96 - IJPS-10-1

International Journal of
Population Studies Attitudes of older adults toward COVID-19 vaccine

North LGA. In the case of the IDI, 14 participants (seven the expression of the participants. This coding system
males and seven females) were selected from Umudim facilitated the integration of observations related to non-
in Nnewi-North LGA, while seven females were selected verbal points by establishing links between the audio-
from Nnobi and five males from Nnokwa, both situated in recorded interview, the coded field notes, and our collective
Idemili-South LGA. The details are as shown in Table 1. memory of the events. This comprehensive approach
ensured that no information, whether originally recorded
2.2. Data collection in English or Igbo, was lost during the transcription and
The study utilized a semi-structured IDI guide and an translation.
FGD guide as the primary instruments for data collection. The researchers performed initial coding, a process that
Recognizing that the study area was predominantly generated numerous categories without any reservation
inhabited by Igbo-speaking individuals, the study of codes (Charmaz, 2006). During this phase, emerging
instruments were prepared in the Igbo language to facilitate thoughts were identified, and relationship diagrams were
seamless communication and discussions. However, drawn in line with the study objectives. Frequently used
participants were given the option to be interviewed in keywords by respondents were pinpointed as indicators
English if they preferred. One FGD session, consisting of important themes. In the second phase, we eliminated,
of six participants, was conducted with male older adults, combined, or subdivided the coding categories identified
while 26 IDIs were conducted, involving 14 females and in the initial coding. This involved a thorough reading of
12 males. To accommodate the language preferences of the the analysis over time to gain familiarity with and mastery
participants, interviews and discussions were conducted in of common and recurrent themes. Our attention was
both Igbo and English. In addition, with the permission of directed toward recurring thoughts and broader themes
the participants, an electronic recorder was used to capture connected to the codes (Charmaz, 2006; Krueger, 1994;
verbal communication, while field notes were used to Ritchie & Spencer, 1994). The final findings of this study
document non-verbal communication cues expressed by
participants. were then reported based on these themes (Table 3).
During the participant recruitment process, we 3. Results
engaged in discussions to determine their preferred 3.1. Theme 1: Attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccine
date, time, and venue for the interview and discussion. uptake
Their participants expressed a preference for conducting
these sessions in their homes and community halls. In We sought to examine the attitudes of Nigerian older
addition, we provided comprehensive information about adults toward the COVID-19 vaccine. Transcript analysis
the study, including its aims, potential risks, and expected revealed that older adults exhibited non-compliance with
benefits. We assured participants of the confidentiality and COVID-19 vaccine uptake, actively rejected the idea
anonymity of their responses and emphasized their right of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, and expressed a
to withdraw from the study at any point. A total of 38 older reluctance to advocate for its acceptance, among others.
adults were approached for participation in the study, but 3.1.1. Non-compliance with COVID-19 vaccine uptake
six declined due to unavailability. Each interview session,
whether individual or group discussions, lasted between The analysis of the transcript indicates a widespread lack
25 and 40 min, while the group discussion sessions lasted of compliance with the COVID-19 vaccine uptake among
55 – 60 min. The sociodemographic characteristics of the almost all the participants. The study’s findings underscore
IDI participants are shown in Table 2. that only one male participant acknowledged receiving the
COVID-19 vaccine. In both LGAs, all other participants
2.3. Data analysis reported not having been vaccinated. Mr. Jul from Idemili-

The analyses of the transcripts and field notes adhered to South explicitly stated, “No, I did not take it. Why would
the inductive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). In they inject me? Am I sick or what?… After a hiss, I did
an effort to maintain the authenticity of the original data not take it, ‘Coro’ (COVID-19) has come and gone, and I
collected from the field, a manual analysis method was did not.” In addition, some participants conveyed a belief
employed without reliance on computer software. Audio that they did not need the vaccine as they considered
files containing participant responses were transcribed themselves immunized by God. Mr. Lui, a male participant
verbatim in Igbo and subsequently translated into English in the IDI, asserted, “I did not take the vaccine. I did
to ensure consistency of meaning in both languages. not take it because I do not need it; I am immunized by
Field notes, where both verbal and non-verbal cues were God.” A female participant, Mrs. Brig from Nnewi-North,
documented, were assigned identification codes to reflect echoed this sentiment, stating, “I did not take the vaccine.

Volume 10 Issue 1 (2024) 90 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.359