Does gender matter in conspiracy beliefs vaccination hesitancy? Evidence from Covid-19 vaccination in Uganda

Abstract

Whereas countries have made strides in getting citizens vaccinated, many still face the challenge of vaccination hesitancy. Evidence indicates that conspiracy beliefs among citizens influence hesitancy and that these beliefs are contextual; thus differing among individuals. Studies have examined the gender aspect and COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs but research is still limited on contextualizing the conspiracy beliefs among the genders and on whether such variations affect vaccination hesitancy differently. This paper examines whether gender is a significant moderating factor between conspiracy theory beliefs and vaccination hesitancy in Uganda, using COVID-19 Vaccination as a case. The study findings on which the article is based are part of a larger study on conspiracy theory and covid-19 vaccination hesitancy. This was an explanatory sequential mixed methods study that included a cross-sectional survey and in-depth interviews. To establish the relationship between conspiracy belief and vaccination hesitancy across gender, Pearson Chi-square analysis was used to explore the gender differences in intentions regarding COVID-19 vaccination and conspiracy beliefs and mentality. There were 1201 participants in the study and 53% of these were females. The findings show that women with strong beliefs in conspiracy theories were more likely to be undecided and unlikely to take up COVID-19 vaccine compared to men with similar beliefs. Men with similar beliefs were already vaccinated. Similarly, females with strong conspiracy mentality were less likely to take up COVID-19 vaccine compared to men with similar mentality. This implies that interventions to improve COVID-19 vaccination should be contextual and consider the gendered differences especially among women who are undecided and unlikely to take the vaccines due to conspiracy mentality.