@Article{info:doi/10.2196/41925,
author="Oyeyemi, Sunday Oluwafemi
and Fagbemi, Stephen
and Busari, Ismaila Iyanda
and Wynn, Rolf",
title="Belief in COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories, Level of Trust in Government Information, and Willingness to Take COVID-19 Vaccines Among Health Care Workers in Nigeria: Survey Study",
journal="JMIR Form Res",
year="2023",
month="May",
day="2",
volume="7",
pages="e41925",
keywords="COVID-19; vaccination; misinformation; conspiracy theories; health workers; Nigeria; government; information; threat; vaccine; willingness; genetic",
abstract="Background: The World Health Organization recently declared vaccine hesitancy or refusal as a threat to global health. COVID-19 vaccines have been proven efficacious and are central to combatting the pandemic. However, many---including skilled health care workers (HCWs)---have been hesitant in taking the vaccines. Conspiracy theories spread on social media may play a central role in fueling vaccine hesitancy. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate HCWs' belief in COVID-19 vaccine conspiracy theories (ie, that the vaccines can alter one's DNA or genetic information and that the vaccines contain microchips) and trust in government information on COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: Health care workers in Ondo State, Nigeria, representing different health care professions were asked to participate anonymously in an online survey. The participants were asked about their beliefs in 2 viral conspiracy theories and their trust in government information on COVID-19 vaccines. We used multivariable logistic regressions to investigate the relationships between trust in government information on COVID-19 vaccines and (1) belief in DNA alteration, (2) belief in microchip implantation through the vaccine, and (3) willingness to accept the vaccine. Results: A total of 557 HCWs (n=156, 28{\%} men and n=395, 70.9{\%} women) were included in the study. A total of 26.4{\%} (n=147) of the sampled HCWs believed COVID-19 vaccines contained digital microchips, while 30{\%} (n=167) believed the vaccines could alter one's DNA or genetic information. The beliefs varied according to professional group, with 45.8{\%} (55/120) and 50{\%} (5/10) of nurses and pharmacists, respectively, believing in the DNA alteration theory and 33.3{\%} (40/120) and 37.5{\%} (6/16) of the nurses and laboratory scientists, respectively, believing in the microchip theory. Social media was an important source of COVID-19 information for 45.4{\%} (253/557) of HCWs. A total of 76.2{\%} (419/550) of the participants expressed a willingness to take the vaccine. The odds of HCWs believing that COVID-19 vaccines contained digital microchips increased significantly with decreasing level of trust in government information on COVID-19 vaccines (odds ratio [OR] 4.6, 95{\%} CI 2.6-8.0). We made a similar finding in those who believed COVID-19 vaccines could alter DNA and genetic information (OR 5.2, 95{\%} CI 3.1-8.8). Conclusions: Misinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccines reaches and influences HCWs. A high proportion of the sampled HCWs believed that COVID-19 vaccines contained microchips or that the vaccines could alter recipients' DNA and genetic information. This might have negative consequences in terms of the HCWs' own COVID-19 vaccination and their influence on other people. Lack of trust in government and its institutions might explain the belief in both conspiracy theories and vaccine hesitancy. There is a need for health care stakeholders in Nigeria and around the world to actively counteract misinformation, especially on social media, and give HCWs necessary scientifically sound information. ",
issn="2561-326X",
doi="10.2196/41925",
url="https://formative.jmir.org/2023/1/e41925",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/41925",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37068055"
}