Predictors of COVID-19 vaccination status among youth in eThekwini, South Africa: results from the AYAZAZI RIGHTS study
Abstract
Background: Understanding which factors impact vaccine uptake is important for supporting ongoing and future vaccine programmes among youth. Objective: This study examined predictors of COVID-19 vaccination uptake among South African youth in the eThekwini District. Methods: Cross-sectional data from an online survey (AYAZAZI RIGHTS: December 2021-May 2022) of youth aged 18-24 in the eThekwini district, South Africa, were analyzed using a gender-stratified logistic regression of vaccination status on candidate predictors of interest (k = 14). A full model with backwards selection using Akaike's Information Criterion was employed to remove predictors that did not add to the model's explanatory power. Results: Of 1383 participants, 54% were women, with a median sample age of 21.8 years. Overall, 37.9% (n = 525) of participants had received a COVID-19 vaccine, 58.6% of whom were women. In this cross-sectional, observational analysis, the most consistent predictors of vaccination status were older age, living with seniors in the home, and personal proximity to severe pandemic outcomes, specifically knowing people who had been hospitalized or died due to COVID-19. Gender-specific predictors included ethnicity, having children for women, employment, and relationship status. Conclusion: Socio-demographic as well as community factors predicted receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, varying by gender. Better understanding of modifiable factors to support vaccine uptake, and curbing vaccine hesitancy related to mistrust and misinformation, will help support South Africa's immunization programs among youth, and can help inform targeted, inclusive, and equity-oriented public-health strategies.
PAPER CONTEXT• Main findings: Just under 38% of South African youth in our study had been vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with predictors of COVID-19 vaccination for both men and women including socio-demographic and community-related factors, such as measures of household makeup and knowing people impacted by COVID-19. • Added knowledge: Evidence from this study suggests gendered differences both for vaccination uptake and for vaccination hesitation. • Global health impact for policy and action: The findings highlight the need for a better understanding of modifiable factors to support vaccine uptake, furthermore, curbing vaccine hesitancy related to mistrust and misinformation will be central to supporting South Africa's immunization programs among youth.
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BibTeX
@article{dietrich2026predictors,
title = {{Predictors of COVID-19 vaccination status among youth in eThekwini, South Africa: results from the AYAZAZI RIGHTS study}},
author = {Janan J Dietrich and Tatiana E Pakhomova and C. Andrew Basham and Kalysha Closson and Bongiwe Zulu and Julie Jesson and Campion Zharima and Mags Beksinska and Rishav Singh and Erica Dong and Angela Kaida},
journal = {Global Health Action},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1080/16549716.2026.2737555},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05820554v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Predictors of COVID-19 vaccination status among youth in eThekwini, South Africa: results from the AYAZAZI RIGHTS study
AU - Janan J Dietrich
AU - Tatiana E Pakhomova
AU - C. Andrew Basham
AU - Kalysha Closson
AU - Bongiwe Zulu
AU - Julie Jesson
AU - Campion Zharima
AU - Mags Beksinska
AU - Rishav Singh
AU - Erica Dong
AU - Angela Kaida
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
JO - Global Health Action
DO - 10.1080/16549716.2026.2737555
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05820554v1
AB - Background: Understanding which factors impact vaccine uptake is important for supporting ongoing and future vaccine programmes among youth. Objective: This study examined predictors of COVID-19 vaccination uptake among South African youth in the eThekwini District. Methods: Cross-sectional data from an online survey (AYAZAZI RIGHTS: December 2021-May 2022) of youth aged 18-24 in the eThekwini district, South Africa, were analyzed using a gender-stratified logistic regression of vaccination status on candidate predictors of interest (k = 14). A full model with backwards selection using Akaike's Information Criterion was employed to remove predictors that did not add to the model's explanatory power. Results: Of 1383 participants, 54% were women, with a median sample age of 21.8 years. Overall, 37.9% (n = 525) of participants had received a COVID-19 vaccine, 58.6% of whom were women. In this cross-sectional, observational analysis, the most consistent predictors of vaccination status were older age, living with seniors in the home, and personal proximity to severe pandemic outcomes, specifically knowing people who had been hospitalized or died due to COVID-19. Gender-specific predictors included ethnicity, having children for women, employment, and relationship status. Conclusion: Socio-demographic as well as community factors predicted receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, varying by gender. Better understanding of modifiable factors to support vaccine uptake, and curbing vaccine hesitancy related to mistrust and misinformation, will help support South Africa's immunization programs among youth, and can help inform targeted, inclusive, and equity-oriented public-health strategies. PAPER CONTEXT• Main findings: Just under 38% of South African youth in our study had been vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with predictors of COVID-19 vaccination for both men and women including socio-demographic and community-related factors, such as measures of household makeup and knowing people impacted by COVID-19. • Added knowledge: Evidence from this study suggests gendered differences both for vaccination uptake and for vaccination hesitation. • Global health impact for policy and action: The findings highlight the need for a better understanding of modifiable factors to support vaccine uptake, furthermore, curbing vaccine hesitancy related to mistrust and misinformation will be central to supporting South Africa's immunization programs among youth.
SN - 1654-9716
SN - 1654-9880
ER -