Knowledge, Awareness and the Willingness to accept the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine among mothers of under-five children in Lagos, Nigeria

Background of the study : In October 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended the use of RTS, S/AS01 malaria vaccine among children in sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with moderate to high P. falciparum malaria transmission. This study aimed to investigate the willingness to receive RTS, S malaria vaccine as well as the knowledge and awareness of this vaccine among mothers of children under five years of age in Lagos, Nigeria. Methodology : This was a cross-sectional survey comprising structured questionnaires administered to mothers of children under the age of five attending immunization clinics in selected local government areas of Lagos, Nigeria (Alimosho, Ikeja, Kosofe, Ikorodu and Surulere). The study was conducted between February and May, 2023. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of the likelihood of receiving the RTS, S malaria vaccine. A total of 395 mothers completed the survey. Results : The awareness of the RTS, S malaria vaccine among mothers of under-five children is fairly low (48%) in Lagos. However, more than two-thirds of the mothers (84.8%) were willing to accept the RTS, S malaria vaccine for their children. Surprisingly, mothers who are undecided on the possibility for the vaccine to infect their children with malaria were nine (9) times likely to accept the RTS/S malaria vaccine compared to those who are certain that the vaccine would not infect their children with malaria (OR = 9.075, 95CI% = 01.275–64.581, p  = 0.028). Moreover, mothers that are aware of the RTS/S malaria vaccine (OR = 3.033, 95CI% = 1.366 –, 6.735, p  < 0.05) are three (3) times more likely to accept the vaccine compared to those that are not aware of the vaccine. Conclusion : The findings of this study revealed the urgent need to increase awareness about the RTS, S malaria vaccine and assure mothers of under-five children of its safety. There is also a need for the Nigerian government to secure a large number of malaria vaccine doses since a majority of the mothers believe that the vaccine should be included in routine immunization.