Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40797258›Full record

SynthesisMalaria journal2025

Community readiness and acceptance for the implementation of the malaria vaccine among caretakers of at-risk children in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Eustes Kigongo, Sean Steven Puleh, Amir Kabunga, Stella Immaculate Akech, Francis Ocen, Marc Sam Opollo, Moses Ebong

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Malaria journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Eustes KigongoDepartment of Health Planning, Policy and Management, Faculty of Public Health, Lira University, Lira, Uganda.
Sean Steven PulehDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Lira University, Lira, Uganda. spuleh@lirauni.ac.ug.
Amir KabungaDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Lira University, Lira, Uganda.
Stella Immaculate AkechDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Lira University, Lira, Uganda.
Francis OcenDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Lira University, Lira, Uganda.
Marc Sam OpolloDepartment of Community Health, Faculty of Public Health, Lira University, Lira, Uganda.
Moses EbongDepartment of Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMalaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among children under five. The introduction of the malaria vaccine presents an opportunity to reduce malaria-related deaths. However, the success of vaccination campaigns depends on community acceptance and willingness to vaccinate. This study aimed to assess the pooled acceptance and willingness to adopt the malaria vaccine in sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on variations across regions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search of databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online, was performed. Studies reporting on malaria vaccine acceptance and willingness among caregivers of children under five in sub-Saharan Africa were included. Data were extracted and analysed using STATA, with heterogeneity assessed through the I

resultsA total of 1611 records were identified, and 34 studies met inclusion criteria after screening. Of these, 25 studies with a combined sample of 25,867 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled acceptance rate for the malaria vaccine among caregivers of children under five in sub-Saharan Africa was 82% (95% CI: 73%-90%), while the pooled willingness rate was 80% (95% CI: 70%-90%). Subgroup analyses showed no statistically significant differences in acceptance or willingness by COVID-19 period or region, though the lowest acceptance (53%) was reported in the DRC. High heterogeneity was observed (I

conclusionThe findings indicate high levels of acceptance and willingness among caregivers to vaccinate children under five against malaria in sub-Saharan Africa, suggesting strong community readiness for vaccine rollout. However, the observed heterogeneity and potential publication bias highlight the need for context-specific strategies and further high-quality studies to support implementation and uptake across diverse regions. Systematic review registration The protocol has been registered with PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023480528.

Indexed as

CaregiversMalariaMalaria VaccinesPatient Acceptance of Health CareVaccinationAfrica South of the SaharaChild, PreschoolCOVID-19HumansInfantMalaria VaccinesAcceptanceCOVID-19Malaria vaccineSub-Saharan AfricaVaccinationWillingness

Identifiers

PMID40797258
PMCPMC12345087

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.