case_images: PMC11131420_01
case_images: We asked respondents with children (97.5%) whether their children were vaccinated against tuberculosis, diphtheria, polio, measles, and yellow fever. In Panel A, the first two bars under the heading 'Vaccination behavior' indicate whether children received at least one of these vaccines, or all five vaccines. Panel B represents the answer categories that emerged after categorizing open answers to the question "Why would you not take a COVID-19 vaccine?." This question was asked to the 412 respondents who indicated not to accept a COVID-19 vaccine if it would be available to them; 129 respondents indicated they would accept it, while the remaining 59 respondents refused to answer or indicated they were unsure.
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case_images: fig3
case_images: After categorizing their open answers, six main answer categories emerged (Figure 3, Panel B).
case_images: For each institutional level, we asked: "In general, to what extent do you believe the following authorities represent the best interests of the Congolese population?." We then asked this question specifically related to these authorities' management of the COVID-19 crisis. N = 600.
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case_images: fig4
case_images: We find rather low levels of institutional trust, ranging between a low of 17% for the president with respect to his management of the COVID-19 crisis and a high of 46% for general trust in local authorities (Figure 4).
case_images: Panel A compares vaccine acceptance across respondents in the president treatment (N = 203) and the control group (N = 195). The difference in means is 0.02 (p-value:0.65). Panel B only considers respondents who trust the president with respect to COVID-19 (N = 71). It compares vaccine acceptance across respondents in the president treatment (N = 37) and the control group (N = 34). The difference in means is 0.23 (p-value:0.047). Panel C only considers respondents who do not trust the president with respect to COVID-19 (N = 327). It compares vaccine acceptance across respondents in the president treatment (N = 158) and the control group (N = 169). The difference in means is 0.07 (p-value:0.11). Average trust in the president is balanced across the control (0.19) and treatment (0.17) group, with a difference in means of 0.02 (p-value:0.56). Panel D compares vaccine acceptance across respondents in the cardinal treatment (N = 202) and the control group (N = 195). The difference in means is 0.002 (p-value:0.96). Panel E only considers respondents who trust the cardinal with respect to COVID-19 (N = 123). It compares vaccine acceptance across respondents in the cardinal treatment (N = 63) and the control group (N = 60). The difference in means is 0.08 (p-value:0.36). Panel F only considers respondents who do not trust the cardinal with respect to COVID-19 (N = 274). It compares vaccine acceptance across respondents in the cardinal treatment (N = 139) and the control group (N = 135). The difference in means is 0.03 (p-value:0.45). Average trust in the cardinal is balanced across the control (0.31) and treatment (0.31) groups, with a difference in means of 0.004 (p-value:0.93). Differences in means and significance levels are obtained from t-tests.
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case_images: fig5
case_images: Figure 5 presents the results of the survey experiment, relying on t-tests to assess differences in means between the control group and the treatment group.5 On average, the hypothetical vaccination of President Tshisekedi has no effect on vaccine acceptance (Panel A).
case_images: We asked respondents to indicate the number of days that they watched TV and listened to the radio in the week prior to the interview. This Figure presents histograms based on the full sample of respondents (N = 600).
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case_images: fig6
case_images: For instance, Figure 6 shows that the large majority of respondents did not watch television (91%) or listen to the radio (57%) in the week prior to the interview.
case_images: This Figure is based on the multivariable logistic regression presented in column 5 of Table 2. Panel A presents predictive margins implying that for Congolese who report trusting the president, the president treatment in the survey experiment boosted vaccine acceptance from 0.27 (95%-CI: 0.18 to 0.35) to 0.52 (95%-CI: 0.21 to 0.83). For those who mistrust the president, it decreased acceptance from 0.17 (95%-CI: 0.08 to 0.27) to 0.11 (95%-CI: 0.02 to 0.19). All other covariates are held at their mean values. The predictive margins in Panel B implies that being aware of the president's vaccination, while holding all other covariates at their mean values, increases vaccine acceptance from 0.15 (95%-CI, 0.08 to 0.23) to 0.35 (95%-CI, 0.14 to 0.55).
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case_images: fig7
case_images: In Figure 7 we make our findings more concrete by presenting predictive margins based on the most inclusive regression specification presented in Table 2.