Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41578311›Full record

ArticleMalaria journal2026

Caregivers awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions towards malaria vaccine in Kole and Kwania Districts, Northern Uganda.

Sean Steven Puleh, Joan N Kalyango, Moses Ocan, Adoke Yeka, Godfrey Siu, Richard Idro, Stella Immaculate Akech, Joy Acen, David L Ejalu, Ziadah Nankinga and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Malaria journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

12 authors.

Sean Steven PulehClinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. spuleh@lirauni.ac.ug.
Joan N KalyangoClinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Moses OcanDepartment of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Adoke YekaDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Godfrey SiuDepartment of Child Health and Development Centre, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Richard IdroDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Stella Immaculate AkechClinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Joy AcenClinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
David L EjaluClinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Ziadah NankingaClinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Robert AfayoClinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Joaniter I NankabirwaClinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.

Funding

Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Grant code: nihr24121
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe R21 malaria vaccine has recently been rolled out in Uganda and other endemic settings across sub-Saharan Africa. Its implementation, faces many potential challenges. We assessed caregivers' awareness, knowledge, attitude, and perceptions towards the vaccine in northern Uganda.

methodsA sequential explanatory mixed methods study was conducted in Kole and Kwania districts, Northern Uganda. Quantitative data were collected through a structured survey of 574 randomly selected caregivers of age-eligible children. Qualitative data were gathered through follow-up focus group discussions with caregivers. Descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis were used to assess knowledge and latent dimensions of attitudes and perceptions. Qualitative data were transcribed verbatim, anonymized, organized within ATLAS.ti version 25, and analysed using deductive thematic analysis.

resultsAmong the 574 caregivers 90.1%, (95% CI 87.3-92.4) were aware of malaria vaccine. However, only 13.9% (95% CI 11.2-17.0) demonstrated factual knowledge regarding key aspects of malaria vaccine including; number of doses required (16.4%), dosing intervals (21.0%), and age eligibility (34.2%). Overall, 57.4% of the caregivers expressed positive attitudes and 57.5% reported positive perceptions towards the vaccine. Common factor analysis (CFA) revealed two key dimensions of vaccine attitudes: caregiver confidence (54.9%) and safety concerns (49.7%). Regarding perceptions, three factors emerged: vaccine confidence (56.5%), trust in delivery (54.9%), and safety concerns. While most caregivers stated confidence and trust, nearly half reported lingering concerns. Qualitative data reinforced these results and revealed five central themes: caregivers' knowledge and awareness of the malaria vaccine; enduring community misconceptions; mixed attitudes reflecting trust, and fear; and perceptions related to vaccine's safety, effectiveness, and value for child-health.

conclusionAlthough, factual knowledge was limited, caregivers reported high awareness of malaria vaccine, alongside positive attitudes and perceptions tempered by safety concerns. The Ministry of Health needs to implement regular, nationwide community education campaigns anchored in locally tailored communication strategies.

Indexed as

CaregiversHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeMalariaMalaria VaccinesAdolescentAdultChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantMaleMiddle AgedUgandaYoung AdultMalaria VaccinesBarriersMalariaNorthern UgandaR21 Malaria vaccineVaccine uptake

Identifiers

PMID41578311
PMCPMC12910924

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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.