Exploring the Use of Storytelling in Vaccination: A Scoping Review
1
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Vaccines for Africa Initiative and NITAG Support Hub (NISH),, Cape Town, South Africa
2
Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
3
Future Evidence Foundation, Melbourne, Australia
4
eBASE Africa, Yaounde, Cameroon
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3930
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Childhood immunisation coverage and vaccine confidence in South Africa have declined since the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring targeted, contextually appropriate interventions to strengthen public confidence in vaccines and enhance demand. Storytelling is gaining interest as a research and health communication approach in public health. However, a gap remains in synthesised evidence on its use in vaccination. This study aimed to map existing evidence, by exploring instances, approaches and outcomes of storytelling in vaccination.
METHODS:
A scoping review was conducted in accordance with Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Databases were searched for eligible studies on storytelling in vaccination using search strings: PubMed, Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Africa Wide Information, PsycINFO, ERIC, Cochrane Library, Web of Science Core Collection, SciELO Citation Index via Web of Science. Grey literature and organisational websites were searched. Identified citations were uploaded to Covidence for screening and data extraction by two independent reviewers using a customised data extraction form. Qualitative content analysis was used to summarise data in conceptual categories, including frequency counts.
RESULTS:
Overall, 6236 studies were identified and imported into Covidence. Following removal of duplicates, 3804 studies were screened for title and abstract, 386 met eligibility criteria for full-text screening, resulting in 110 studies included. Storytelling was used as a research method (n=96), communication intervention (n=12) and therapeutic approach (n=3) in immunisation (1997-2025). Most studies originated from North-America (n=67), while only 6 from Africa. Two-thirds of studies (n=64) were randomised controlled trails. A shift in vaccine-related outcomes was evident from 80.6% (50/62) of studies reporting immunisation-related outcomes of storytelling.
CONCLUSIONS:
Storytelling is emerging as a credible and adaptable approach in addressing contextual vaccine challenges. Its added advantage in building trust, improving understanding and supporting vaccine-related decisions amongst diverse populations makes it suitable as a health communication intervention for the South African context.
Childhood immunisation coverage and vaccine confidence in South Africa have declined since the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring targeted, contextually appropriate interventions to strengthen public confidence in vaccines and enhance demand. Storytelling is gaining interest as a research and health communication approach in public health. However, a gap remains in synthesised evidence on its use in vaccination. This study aimed to map existing evidence, by exploring instances, approaches and outcomes of storytelling in vaccination.
METHODS:
A scoping review was conducted in accordance with Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Databases were searched for eligible studies on storytelling in vaccination using search strings: PubMed, Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Africa Wide Information, PsycINFO, ERIC, Cochrane Library, Web of Science Core Collection, SciELO Citation Index via Web of Science. Grey literature and organisational websites were searched. Identified citations were uploaded to Covidence for screening and data extraction by two independent reviewers using a customised data extraction form. Qualitative content analysis was used to summarise data in conceptual categories, including frequency counts.
RESULTS:
Overall, 6236 studies were identified and imported into Covidence. Following removal of duplicates, 3804 studies were screened for title and abstract, 386 met eligibility criteria for full-text screening, resulting in 110 studies included. Storytelling was used as a research method (n=96), communication intervention (n=12) and therapeutic approach (n=3) in immunisation (1997-2025). Most studies originated from North-America (n=67), while only 6 from Africa. Two-thirds of studies (n=64) were randomised controlled trails. A shift in vaccine-related outcomes was evident from 80.6% (50/62) of studies reporting immunisation-related outcomes of storytelling.
CONCLUSIONS:
Storytelling is emerging as a credible and adaptable approach in addressing contextual vaccine challenges. Its added advantage in building trust, improving understanding and supporting vaccine-related decisions amongst diverse populations makes it suitable as a health communication intervention for the South African context.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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