Attitudes Towards and Willingness to Accept Malaria Vaccination among Caregivers of Under-Five Children in Plateau State, Nigeria.
Le résumé fourni par la source
Abstract Background:Malaria remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria and contributes substantially to morbidity and mortality among children under five years of age. The recent introduction of malaria vaccines offers a promising addition to malaria control strategies. However, successful implementation depends on caregiver acceptance. This study assessed attitudes towards malaria vaccines and willingness to accept malaria vaccination among caregivers of under-five children in Plateau State, Nigeria.Methods:A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 408 caregivers of under-five children in selected communities in Plateau State, Nigeria. Participants were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with attitudes and willingness to accept malaria vaccination. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.Results:Most caregivers (94.9%) demonstrated positive attitudes towards malaria vaccines, while 85.3% were willing to vaccinate their children. Although most recognized malaria as a serious health problem and vaccination as an important preventive strategy, concerns regarding vaccine side effects (91.1%), effectiveness (78.4%), and religious implications (87.8%) were common. Religion (p = 0.008), occupation (p = 0.002), educational status (p < 0.001), and family type (p = 0.010) were independently associated with attitudes towards malaria vaccines, while occupation was the only independent predictor of willingness to accept malaria vaccination (p < 0.001).Conclusions:Caregivers demonstrated positive attitudes towards malaria vaccines and a high willingness to vaccinate their children. However, concerns regarding vaccine safety, effectiveness, and religious implications remain. Strengthening community engagement and improving access to accurate vaccine information may enhance confidence and support successful malaria vaccine implementation.
Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.