Covid-19 Vaccination Compliance Among Rural Farming Households in Kwara State: Characteristics and Drivers

Abstract

The covid-19 Pandemic has contributed significantly to food crises in Sub- Saharan Africa, Nigeria inclusive. While vaccines have been successfully developed to ameliorate the impact of covid-19 infection, the level and drivers of compliance among farmers have not been adequately documented. This study examined the level of compliance as well as the drivers of compliance to covid- 19 vaccination among farmers in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. We conducted a farm survey among 120 households drawn through a 3-staged sampling technique. The cross-sectional data obtained were analyzed with descriptive statistics and a logistic regression model. The results of the data analysis show that 87.5 % of the farmers have been vaccinated. 62.5% of the farmers reported that their farming activities were affected adversely by the pandemic. 42.5% of the affected farmers claimed that the effect of covid on their farming activities actually manifested in form of pest infestation. The majority (77.5%) of the affected farmers reported that they recorded financial losses with 71.1% of them recording severe wastages in their farm produce due to delayed harvesting. Household size and years of schooling were the significant determinants of Covid-19 vaccination compliance in the study area. It was thus recommended that efforts should be geared towards educating the rural populace to achieve 100% vaccination for sound health and higher productivity among farmers.