Assessment of Knowledge, Adherence to Preventive Measures and Willingness to Accept Covid-19 Vaccine Among Patients Attending kunchingoro Primary Healthcare Center in Abuja

Background: The rapid spread of COVID-19 worldwide stimulated global efforts since 2019 and led to immense scientific progress and rapid development of vaccines for covid infection. Knowledge of the virus and its prevention would modify behaviour and strengthen patient’s willingness to accept COVID-19 Vaccine. Hence, this study aims to assess the knowledge, adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures and the willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccine among patients in the Kuchingoro primary health care centre Abuja FCT. Methods: A descriptive cross- sectional study conducted among 230 adult patients age 18 year and above. Multi stage sampling was used to select eligible respondents. Data was collected using interviewer administered questionnaire. Results: Results showed that majority of the respondents 152 (66.1%) had poor knowledge while 78 (33.9%) had good knowledge of covid 19, with a mean score of 46.9 ± 11.6. However, they adopted good preventive measures. Multivariate analysis showed that good knowledge is a predictor of willingness to accept vaccine and it can be as high as 4 times (OR = 2.17; 95% CI = 1.11 to 4.23). Likewise, those respondents that adhere to preventive measures a more willing to accept covid 19 vaccine. Conclusion: The study has shown that respondent’s knowledge of covid 19 was poor. However, the respondent’s adherence to preventive measures appeared good but few respondents were willing to accept covid 19 vaccine. Behaviour change communication need to be intensified in the communities in order to improve the level of knowledge and respondent’s willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccine.