The initial search retrieved 391 research papers from the three databases: PubMed; Science Direct and Google Scholar. After removing duplicates, 152 papers underwent abstract and title screening, which resulted in the exclusion of 73 studies. The remaining 73 studies underwent full text screening resulting in 21 research papers. Figure 1 below shows the selection process.
Characteristics of the studies
The study characteristics of the studies included this systematic review are presented in table 1 at the appendix. 8 studies focused on Kenya, 3 studies in Tanzania, 4 studies in Uganda and 7 studies focused both Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and other countries.
Enablers to Covid-19 vaccine uptake
Access to knowledge and information
Three reviewed studies(17–19) indicated that access to knowledge and information about the importance of vaccination, the benefits, the side effects, and the risks has helped people to make informed decisions on vaccination. A study in Kenya revealed that due to public awareness on the significance of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, 63.7% of the respondents from the pooled analysis acknowledged to have received information(19). A study in Uganda indicated that due to increased sensitization, 70.1% respondents in the study were willing to be vaccinated(17). Another review noted that due to awareness, there was willingness to be vaccinated in Low Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) including Uganda as such, messages highlighting vaccine efficacy and safety, delivered by healthcare workers could be effective for addressing any remaining hesitancy in the analyzed LMICs(18).
Involvement of community and religious leaders
One reviewed study (18) acknowledges that the community plays a crucial role in raising awareness and addressing concerns that the community thus building trust. In Uganda, community involvement had increased vaccine uptake. In general, the review noted that 70.1% of the respondents in the study were willing to be vaccinated.
Education levels
One reviewed study (20)focusing Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and other countries indicated that vaccination refusal in Kenya had declined dramatically over the course of 2021 from 24 % i February 2021 to 9 % i October 2021. The reduction was associated with education levels beyond the primary level.
Cash Incentives
One reviewed study(18) notes that providing cash incentives, such as direct payments or gift cards, can be an effective way to encourage vaccination uptake. The reviewed study showed that usage of cash incentives combined with vaccination reminders in Kenya had increased childhood immunization coverage.
Enablers to uptake of hand washing
Access to hand hygiene interventions and water
Five reviewed studies (21–25)have acknowledged the importance of access to hand hygiene interventions. A study by Abdullahi et al., (2020) focusing Kenya indicated that access to hand hygiene interventions were effective in reducing the transition of Covid-19 (21). Another review to examine WASH in Kenya’s slums Mathare and Kibera during the pandemic in 2021 indicated that WASH accessibility in Mathare was better than in Kibera an indication that the uptake could be high compared to Kibera where the 77.4% of people have limited to hand wash compared to Mathare which has 60.6%(22). Another reviewed study focusing Kilifi and Mombasa counties noted that 97% of households surveyed were practicing hand washing. In Tanzania, the reviewed study noted that handwashing facility could be accessed up to 80.7% being the highest compared to Kenya at 66.4% and Uganda at 59.2% (25) (25)Similarly, a study focusing Tanzania highlighted that access to effective alcohol-based sanitizers would boost Covid 19 mitigation efforts(23). A study by focusing Sub-Saharan including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and other countries indicated that uptake of handwashing ranged between 63–96.4%. In Uganda, the review indicated that 81.4% of the surveyed respondents practiced handwashing with water and soap(24).
Access to knowledge and information on hand hygiene
Three reviewed studies(21, 26, 27) indicated that access to information about the importance of hand washing, the benefits, the side effects, and the risks had indeed influenced handwashing. One of the reviewed studies (26)focusing Kenya indicated that 53.6% of the residents indicated that they had received information on hand hygiene practices. Another reviewed study focusing Tanzania -Dare salaam city(27) showed that 98.4% respondents reported to have been informed on how to effectively wash their hands with water and soap or use alcohol-based sanitizer thus influencing handwashing. Further, another study(21) notes that awareness on the importance of hand hygiene promotes handwashing uptake.
Barriers to uptake of Vaccines
Lack of access to vaccines
Two reviewed studies (28, 29) reported lack of access to vaccines. A study (28)focusing Kenya indicated that understanding geographical access regarding to Covid-19 vaccination locations is key for successful planning of vaccination programmes. A study focusing Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and other countries noted that accessibility was based on location-distance to vaccination centers (29).
Awareness barriers
Five reviewed studies show that inadequate awareness about the effectiveness of vaccines had influenced the low uptake. A study(30) focusing Kenya indicated that misinformation and lack of public sensitization about the vaccines had led to vaccine hesitancy. A study(31) focusing Uganda noted that due inadequate awareness on vaccination sites, the overall Covid-19 hesitancy was 58.6%. A study(32) focusing Kenya and other countries highlighted that Covid-19 acceptance rates ranged between 6.9 to 97.9%. Similarly, a study(29) to map uptake of Covid − 19 vaccines in Kenya noted that lack of adequate information had led to low vaccine uptake. Another study(18) highlighted that the vaccine efficacy witnessed in LMC samples including Uganda which averaged 19.2% could reflect lack of information about vaccines.
Fear of side effects
Five reviewed studies noted that concerns on side effects had indeed led to low vaccine uptake. A study to determine the acceptability and acceptancy rates of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among Kenyans residing inhabitants noted that concerns on safety, effectiveness, and accuracy of information about the manufactured vaccines had resulted to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among females in both populations (19). A study focusing Uganda highlighted similar concerns on side effects (33). The findings noted that of the 346 health workers enrolled in the study, 13.3% were vaccine hesitant. A study to examine factors to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake in Kenya indicated that unsubstantiated fear about the side effects and misinformation was still a barrier to vaccine uptake (30). A study(32) focusing Kenya and other countries and another study(34) focusing Kisumu on Kenya reported concerns regarding vaccine safety and side effects. Similarly, a study(29) focusing Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania noted that safety concerns were still a barrier on vaccine uptake among adults.
The lack of trust of COVID-19 vaccine
Three reviewed studies have indicated that lack of trust was one of the greatest challenges to acceptance of Covid-19 vaccine. A study(34) focusing Kenya to explore experiences of key informants noted that lack of trust in the information regarding the efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 vaccines provided by the health authorities had an impact on the uptake. Further, another study(33) noted that lack of trust in on COVID-19 vaccines had led to low uptake of Covid vaccinations in Uganda. Similarly, a study review focusing Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and other countries indicated that lack of trust in government and public health authorities had led to low uptake of COVID-19 vaccines (29).
Myths, misconceptions, risk-perception
Two reviewed studies noted that myths, misconceptions, and risk-perception had influenced the low vaccine uptake witnessed. A study focusing Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and other countries noted vaccine hesitancy was influenced by perception of being at low risk (29). In addition, a review (17) focusing on Uganda also mentioned myth busting within the society had influenced vaccine hesitancy.
Barriers to uptake to hand washing
Inadequate access to hand hygiene, water and soap
Four reviewed studies cited several barriers to hand hygiene/ handwashing. One study(26) indicated that lack of access to water and the likelihood of pay water was a challenge to uptake of handwashing in Kenya. Another study focusing on Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and other countries indicated that lack of access to handwashing stations, water and soap was a big barrier to the uptake of handwashing. The study results indicated that handwashing prevalence declined significantly across regions and in each country with Tanzania recording a 14% decline (Δ84–70%) (35)). Similarly, another study(34) noted that inadequate access to hygiene and safety caused psychosocial stresses among healthcare workers thus affecting the quality of care provided. A study to examine WASH in Kenya’s slums -Mathare and Kibera- during the pandemic in 2021 indicated that accessibility of water was better in Mathare than in Kibera (22). A study(25) focusing Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and other countries noted that in some areas, hand hygiene facilities including washing stations were still not universal, the results showed that Kenya had Kenya (66.4%), Tanzania (80.7%) and Uganda (59.2%).
Awareness barriers
One reviewed study indicated that lack of awareness and information was one of the biggest challenges to uptake of handwashing. In a study to assess (26) the knowledge about hand hygiene practices during the COVID-19 pandemic among residents in Mombasa and Kilifi counties in Kenya found that that information received on hygiene practices was below 50%. Access of information about hygiene was 42.6%, hand washing was 39.2% and the use of soap was 33.3%.
Fear of side effects
Two reviewed studies have cited fear of side effects was still a big challenge to uptake of handwashing. One of the studies in Tanzania indicated that there were still concerns regarding the safety and efficacy of manufactured handwashing sanitizers. Efficiency and safety concerns of manufactured sanitizers need to be assessed to safeguard public health safety (23). In a study carried in to explore the effects of the Covid-19 on the health care facilities in Kisumu-Kenya, fear of side effects by participants was cited as a barrier to handwashing practices (34)
The lack of trust
Regarding to handwashing, individuals did not trust the government's recommendations or messaging on the benefits of hand hygiene (24, 34). These results emphasis the need to build trust in order to increase hand hygiene uptake.
Myths, misconceptions, risk-perception
A reviewed study focusing Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and other countries indicated that due to misconceptions and risk-perception, some individual did not see the need for hand washing or the method of washing hands (24). Another study focusing Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and other countries indicated that perceptions regarding the effectiveness of handwashing across the study countries had led to declines on handwashing prevalence from 84% to70% in Tanzania (35).