Table 2.
Summary of themes
| Major theme | Subtheme |
|---|---|
| Knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19 | 1. Questioning the existence of COVID-19 |
| Similarities and differences | |
| In the first round of interviews (March 2021), pregnant women (17–24, ≥25 y) and community leaders had similar thoughts: • COVID-19 is an invented illness • An illness aimed to reduce African population • An invented illness for purposes of making money • An illness that only affects Europeans • An illness that affects mostly the rich In the second round of interviews all pregnant women and some community leaders changed their perceptions and started to believe that COVID-19 existed. However, some community leaders in the second round did not change their perceptions and still believed that COVID-19 was being used as a trick to get money from the Whites. |
|
| Barriers to COVID-19 vaccination uptake | 1. Safety concerns for the woman and unborn baby |
| Similarities and differences | |
| • Young mothers (17–24 y of age) and community leaders expressed more concerns related to vaccine safety to the unborn baby during all rounds of interviews, whereas older women were more concerned about their own health. | |
| 2. Vaccine quality concerns | |
| Similarities and differences | |
| • All participants expressed worry about the quality of the vaccine • High-profile stakeholders receive better vaccines • Lack of trust in government pharmaceuticals |
|
| 3. Concerns about consenting before receiving the vaccine | |
| Similarities and differences | |
| • All participants mentioned that consenting before receiving a vaccine was not a normal practice • Consenting is an agreement to accepting to receive an unsafe vaccine |
|
| 4. Using local herbs | |
| Similarities and differences | |
| • Community leaders and older women thought local herbs work better than the vaccine, while young mothers did not express any view on local herbs. | |
| Facilitators of COVID-19 | 1. Increase in disease and death cases |
| vaccine uptake | Similarities and differences |
| • All participants reported this same facilitator for COVID-19 vaccine uptake | |
| 2. Role of influencers | |
| Similarities and differences | |
| • Only pregnant women thought they could be motivated by other people to take the vaccine | |
| 3. Increased sensitisation | |
| Similarities and differences | |
| • All participants mentioned that information about COVID-19 vaccines and side effects increased acceptance |