Empowered Voices, Healthier Choices: Gender-Sensitive Pathways to Vaccine Confidence among Women in West Africa
1
Research, A Global Healthcare Public Foundation (Uganda), Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Women are pivotal in child vaccination decisions, yet their concerns are often marginalized within immunization programs. This study assessed the effectiveness of a gender-sensitive engagement model in enhancing vaccine confidence, trust, and uptake among women across diverse socio-cultural contexts in West Africa.
METHODS:
A mixed-method, quasi-experimental study was conducted from February to December 2025 in 16 communities across Cameroon and Burkina Faso. Eight intervention sites implemented a women-centered confidence package: women-led dialogue circles, co-created storytelling sessions, and a digital campaign amplifying pro-vaccine narratives. Control sites received standard care. Pre- and post-intervention surveys (n=2,400) assessed vaccine confidence, trust, and child immunization status; qualitative interviews (n=64) explored behavioral mechanisms.
RESULTS:
Compared to controls, intervention sites showed significant gains in mean vaccine confidence (+0.92; 95% CI 0.70–1.13; p<0.001) and trust in health services (+1.14; p<0.001). Full immunization coverage increased from 61.4% to 79.3% (+17.9 pp; p<0.01). Thematic analysis revealed that women-led dialogues reframed vaccination as a symbol of maternal protection and agency. The campaign reached 185,000 individuals and generated 3,200 digital interactions.
CONCLUSIONS:
Embedding gender equity in vaccine confidence interventions transforms women from passive recipients to active health champions. Scaling such models can bridge gender gaps in health communication, enhance community trust, and advance equitable immunization coverage across borders.
Women are pivotal in child vaccination decisions, yet their concerns are often marginalized within immunization programs. This study assessed the effectiveness of a gender-sensitive engagement model in enhancing vaccine confidence, trust, and uptake among women across diverse socio-cultural contexts in West Africa.
METHODS:
A mixed-method, quasi-experimental study was conducted from February to December 2025 in 16 communities across Cameroon and Burkina Faso. Eight intervention sites implemented a women-centered confidence package: women-led dialogue circles, co-created storytelling sessions, and a digital campaign amplifying pro-vaccine narratives. Control sites received standard care. Pre- and post-intervention surveys (n=2,400) assessed vaccine confidence, trust, and child immunization status; qualitative interviews (n=64) explored behavioral mechanisms.
RESULTS:
Compared to controls, intervention sites showed significant gains in mean vaccine confidence (+0.92; 95% CI 0.70–1.13; p<0.001) and trust in health services (+1.14; p<0.001). Full immunization coverage increased from 61.4% to 79.3% (+17.9 pp; p<0.01). Thematic analysis revealed that women-led dialogues reframed vaccination as a symbol of maternal protection and agency. The campaign reached 185,000 individuals and generated 3,200 digital interactions.
CONCLUSIONS:
Embedding gender equity in vaccine confidence interventions transforms women from passive recipients to active health champions. Scaling such models can bridge gender gaps in health communication, enhance community trust, and advance equitable immunization coverage across borders.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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