Local attitudes towards malarial disease in a high-burden area of rural Ghana: a cross-sectional household survey

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2026 Feb 2;120(2):79-82. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/traf099.

Abstract

Ghana aims to reduce malaria incidence by 50% and malaria mortality by 90% by 2028. The new R21 malaria vaccine aims to support achieving malaria-elimination goals, but it must be met with high population confidence and uptake. In this cross-sectional household survey in Karaga District, northern Ghana, 99.4% (n=175) agreed malaria is a serious disease to children, while 90.9% (n=160) agreed or strongly agreed they would like their children aged <5 y to take the new vaccine. Thus, in these communities, the highly effective vaccine can plausibly expect to have high rates of uptake, contributing to Ghana's efforts to improve health outcomes.

Keywords: Ghana; Karaga; Malaria; R21/Matrix-M vaccine; West Africa.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Family Characteristics
  • Female
  • Ghana / epidemiology
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Malaria Vaccines* / administration & dosage
  • Malaria* / epidemiology
  • Malaria* / prevention & control
  • Malaria* / psychology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Rural Population
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Malaria Vaccines

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