Acceptance of a malaria vaccine among caregivers of sick children under 5 years of age in Burundi.

Abstract

Background: Malaria poses a significant public health burden globally, particularly in Burundi, where it is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity. To eliminate malaria, the malaria vaccine will be introduced in childhood vaccination. However, the information on malaria vaccine acceptance is limited. Therefore, this study investigates malaria vaccine acceptance and associated factors in Burundi.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that involved caregivers of sick children under 5 years old to assess the acceptability of the malaria vaccine. A questionnaire was used to collect data, and SPSS was used to analyse data and identify factors significantly associated with malaria vaccine acceptance.

Results: Overall, 405 (90.6%) participants indicated they would accept a malaria vaccine for their children under 5 years. The predictive factors that are significantly associated with the acceptance of the malaria vaccine include the caregivers' knowledge regarding the malaria vaccine (OR = 10.326, P-value = 0.035), the caregivers' employment (OR = 6.088, P-value = 0.02), and previous experience with childhood vaccination (OR = 3.145, P-value = 0.004).

Conclusion: This study shows a high proportion of caregivers' willingness to accept the malaria vaccine. Factors including caregivers' employment, prior childhood vaccination experience, and awareness of the malaria vaccine significantly influence acceptance. These findings highlight the need for targeted awareness campaigns to increase awareness, thus, the potential for widespread vaccine adoption. Consequently, building on existing trust in childhood vaccinations, policymakers should prioritize targeted public health interventions that address knowledge gaps and concerns, ultimately contributing to malaria prevention and control efforts.