A University of Ibadan study has revealed that while many caregivers of under-five children in Oyo State have poor knowledge of the malaria vaccine, nearly all are willing to vaccinate their children once it becomes available.
The research, presented at the Ibadan International Public Health Conference by a Master’s student in the Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ayodele Victoria Damilola, revealed that 96.4 per cent of caregivers surveyed expressed readiness to vaccinate their children against malaria.
The study, supervised by Dr. M. A. Titiloye, assessed caregivers’ knowledge, perception, and intention towards malaria vaccination in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Nigeria accounts for about 27 per cent of global malaria cases, according to the World Health Organisation, while children under five remain the most affected by malaria-related deaths in Africa.
Although the WHO-approved RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine has been introduced in Nigeria and piloted in Bayelsa and Kebbi states, Oyo State is yet to begin rollout.
The cross-sectional study involved 307 caregivers attending primary healthcare centres for immunisation and growth monitoring.
Findings showed that only 54.1 per cent of respondents were aware of the malaria vaccine, while just 27.4 per cent demonstrated good knowledge of it.
The researcher said many caregivers lacked adequate knowledge of the vaccine’s dosage, eligibility age, and possible side effects. Misconceptions also persisted, with some believing the vaccine could cause infertility or eliminate the need for other preventive measures such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
Despite these concerns, willingness to vaccinate remained remarkably high.
‘Many mothers said they are tired of treating malaria repeatedly and are willing to embrace any intervention that can protect their children,’ Ayodele said.
The study identified trust in healthcare workers and their recommendations as the strongest predictors of caregivers’ willingness to vaccinate. Confidence in government, previous positive vaccination experiences, transportation costs, distance to health facilities, and community leaders’ influence also shaped vaccination decisions.
Ayodele noted that climate change, flooding, rising temperatures, and poor environmental sanitation are increasing mosquito breeding and malaria transmission, making effective prevention more urgent.
She stressed that malaria vaccination should complement existing measures such as insecticide-treated nets, environmental sanitation, and prompt diagnosis and treatment.
The researcher called for sustained public education to address misconceptions, strengthen trust in frontline healthcare workers, and ensure easy access to the vaccine when it is introduced across Oyo State.