Community perceptions of malaria and vaccines in two districts of Mozambique

Malaria Journal

Research

Kathryn Lancaster¹  Juliana Conjera²  Allison Bingham³  Yvette Collymore⁴  Antoinette Ba-Nguz⁵  Felisbela Gaspar⁶ 

[1] Department of Epidemiology, UNC-CH, Campus, Box 7435, 27599-7435, Chapel Hill, NC, USA;M&E, Rua dos Sinais No 50/74, FHI360, Maputo, Mozambique;PATH Kenya, PO Box 19128–40123, Mezzanine Floor, Along Nairobi Road, Mega City Building, Kisumu, Kenya;PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI), 455 Massachusetts Ave., 20001-2621, Washington, DC, NW, USA;PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, PO Box 76634, ACS Plaza, 4th floor, Lenana and Galana Road, 00508, Nairobi, Kenya;Traditional Medicine Institute, Ministry of Health, PO Box 264, Av: Eduardo Mondlane/Salvador Allende, Maputo, Mozambique;

关键词: Formative studies;    Vaccination;    Malaria;    Children;    Communities;    Health communications;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1475-2875-11-394

 received in 2012-09-10, accepted in 2012-11-21,  发布年份 2012

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMalaria is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Mozambique, with nearly three-quarters of the country’s malaria-related deaths occurring in children younger than five years. A malaria vaccine is not yet available, but planning is underway for a possible introduction, as soon as one becomes available. In an effort to inform the planning process, this study explored sociocultural and health communications issues among individuals at the community level who are both responsible for decisions about vaccine use and who are likely to influence decisions about vaccine use.MethodsResearchers conducted a qualitative study in two malaria-endemic districts in southern Mozambique. Using criterion-based sampling, they conducted 23 focus group discussions and 26 in-depth interviews. Implementation was guided by the engagement of community stakeholders.ResultsCommunity members recognize that malaria contributes to high death rates and affects the workforce, school attendance, and the economy. Vaccines are seen as a means to reduce the threat of childhood illnesses and to keep children and the rest of the community healthy. Perceived constraints to accessing vaccine services include long queues, staff shortages, and a lack of resources at health care facilities. Local leaders play a significant role in motivating caregivers to have their children vaccinated. Participants generally felt that a vaccine could help to prevent malaria, although some voiced concern that the focus was only on young children and not on older children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Probed on their understanding of vaccine efficacy, participants voiced various views, including the perception that while some vaccines did not fully prevent disease they still had important benefits. Overall, it would be essential for local leaders to be involved in the design of specific messages for a future malaria vaccine communications strategy, and for those messages to be translated into local languages.ConclusionsAcceptance of routine childhood vaccines bodes well for a future malaria vaccine. Vaccinating children is a well-established routine that is viewed favourably in Mozambique. A communications strategy would need to build on existing immunization efforts and use trusted sources—including current government dissemination arrangements—to deliver health information.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Bingham et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2012