Effects of faith-aligned young religious influencers on pentavalent vaccine literacy and acceptance among religious leaders in northern Nigeria
1
Research & Program., Kano Youth Champions Development Initiative, Society for Family Health Nigeria, Kano, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Northern Nigeria bears a disproportionate burden of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), an estimated 41% of under-five deaths nationally considered preventable through vaccination. Persistently low immunization coverage and high VPD prevalence in the region are driven largely by sociocultural hesitancy and misinformation. Religious leaders significantly shape community beliefs, yet evidence on faith-contextualized interventions to strengthen vaccine literacy remains limited. This study evaluated the effectiveness of trained “Young Religious Influencers (YRIs),” delivering doctrinally resonant immunization communication to religious leaders.
METHODS:
YRI were trained by Kano Youth Champions Development Initiative (KYCDI) in basic immunology, interpersonal communication, and doctrinal reframing to support faith-aligned vaccine dialogue. They engaged religious leaders bi-weekly for a month. A mixed-methods pre/post evaluation was conducted among 44 religious leaders selected through simple random sampling from association registers in Dala and Fagge LGAs, Kano State. Measures included mechanistic understanding of the pentavalent vaccine, schedule literacy, and frequency of VPD-related discussions with congregants. Quantitative data were analyzed using paired t-tests and multivariable regression to identify predictors of knowledge gain. Semi-structured interviews were thematically analyzed to assess shifts in trust, doctrinal alignment, and message credibility. Ethical approval obtained, and all participants provided informed consent.
RESULTS:
Mechanistic knowledge increased from 37.2% to 76.8% (p<0.001), and schedule literacy rose from 41.3% to 88.7% (p<0.001). The proportion of religious leaders reporting active discussions on VPDs and the pentavalent vaccine with congregants increased substantially from 11% to 73%. Engagement intensity with YRI was a significant predictor of knowledge improvement (β=0.42; p<0.001). Qualitative findings revealed strengthened trust in vaccine information, enhanced doctrinal justification for immunization, and reduced vulnerability to misinformation.
CONCLUSIONS:
YRIs significantly improved vaccine literacy and VPD-related engagement among religious leaders in Northern Nigeria. This approach represents behavioural immunization model with potential for replication in socioculturally complex settings to strengthen community trust and enhance VPD vaccine confidence
Northern Nigeria bears a disproportionate burden of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), an estimated 41% of under-five deaths nationally considered preventable through vaccination. Persistently low immunization coverage and high VPD prevalence in the region are driven largely by sociocultural hesitancy and misinformation. Religious leaders significantly shape community beliefs, yet evidence on faith-contextualized interventions to strengthen vaccine literacy remains limited. This study evaluated the effectiveness of trained “Young Religious Influencers (YRIs),” delivering doctrinally resonant immunization communication to religious leaders.
METHODS:
YRI were trained by Kano Youth Champions Development Initiative (KYCDI) in basic immunology, interpersonal communication, and doctrinal reframing to support faith-aligned vaccine dialogue. They engaged religious leaders bi-weekly for a month. A mixed-methods pre/post evaluation was conducted among 44 religious leaders selected through simple random sampling from association registers in Dala and Fagge LGAs, Kano State. Measures included mechanistic understanding of the pentavalent vaccine, schedule literacy, and frequency of VPD-related discussions with congregants. Quantitative data were analyzed using paired t-tests and multivariable regression to identify predictors of knowledge gain. Semi-structured interviews were thematically analyzed to assess shifts in trust, doctrinal alignment, and message credibility. Ethical approval obtained, and all participants provided informed consent.
RESULTS:
Mechanistic knowledge increased from 37.2% to 76.8% (p<0.001), and schedule literacy rose from 41.3% to 88.7% (p<0.001). The proportion of religious leaders reporting active discussions on VPDs and the pentavalent vaccine with congregants increased substantially from 11% to 73%. Engagement intensity with YRI was a significant predictor of knowledge improvement (β=0.42; p<0.001). Qualitative findings revealed strengthened trust in vaccine information, enhanced doctrinal justification for immunization, and reduced vulnerability to misinformation.
CONCLUSIONS:
YRIs significantly improved vaccine literacy and VPD-related engagement among religious leaders in Northern Nigeria. This approach represents behavioural immunization model with potential for replication in socioculturally complex settings to strengthen community trust and enhance VPD vaccine confidence
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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