Journal Article Epublish 1 citation
PubMed: 39457329 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21101356
Differences in COVID-19 Vaccination and Experiences among Patients with Hypertension in Colombia and Jamaica during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Int J Environ Res Public Health 21(10)
Authors: Jacqueline P Duncan, Siyi Geng, Carene Lindsay, Trevor S Ferguson, Katherine T Mills, Jose Patricio Lopez-Lopez, Hua He, Paola Lanza, Allison N Marshall, Makeda J Williams, Veronica Tonwe, Mabel Reyes, Alfonso Campo, Patricio Lopez-Jaramillo, Marshall K Tulloch-Reid
Affiliations
- Department of Community Health and Psychiatry, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
- Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
- Epidemiology Research Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
- Masira Research Institute, Universidad de Santander (UDES), Bucaramanga 680003, Colombia.
- Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universidad de Santander (UDES), Valledupar 200001, Colombia.
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, hypertensive patients had increased infection and healthcare disruption in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with limited vaccine access. The objective of this report is to describe COVID-19 experiences and vaccination uptake among hypertensive patients in Colombia and Jamaica. A cross-sectional study of patients with hypertension was conducted in primary care clinics in both countries between 2021 and 2022. Trained interviewers used a telephone-administered questionnaire to assess COVID-19 experiences (infection, vaccination, and healthcare access). A total of 576 patients (68.5% female, mean age: 67.5 years) participated. Health service disruption affecting access to care was low (<10%). Compared to Jamaica, more participants from Colombia reported testing positive for COVID-19, having family members or friends testing positive, losing family members or friends due to COVID-19, and being vaccinated. In logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, education, and rural/urban clinic status, fear of COVID-19 (OR 2.7, 95% CI: 1.2-6.1) and residence in Colombia (OR 5.9, 95% CI: 2.4-14.6) were associated with higher vaccination uptake. Disparities in access to COVID-19 testing and diagnosis may have influenced these country differences including fear of COVID-19 and vaccine uptake. Other factors need to be better understood to prepare for future pandemic responses.
MeSH
Environmental Exposure, Research Design, Hypertension, Fear, Vaccines, Vaccination, Covid-19, Pandemics, Infections, Health Services, Vaccination Hesitancy