Role of Parental Education on Routine Childhood Immunization in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic Review
1
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
2
School of medicine, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, United States
3
Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
4
Medical Laboratory Science, Adeleke University, Ede, Nigeria
5
Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wisconsin, United States
6
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Routine childhood immunization remains one of the most effective public health interventions to reduce preventable diseases and mortality (1). Despite progress in sub-Saharan Africa, disparities in vaccination acceptance and coverage persist, with parental education identified as a key determinant (2). This study aimed to assess the role of parental education on childhood immunization in sub-Saharan Africa.
METHODS:
This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines (3) and was registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251069991). A comprehensive search of PubMed, Google Scholar, AJOL, and DOAJ was conducted for studies published between 2020 and June 2025, which yielded 847 records. Eligible studies focused on the influence of parental education on routine childhood immunization in sub-Saharan Africa. Following full-text review, twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for risk of bias assessment, and findings were synthesized thematically (4).
RESULTS:
Higher maternal and paternal education was associated with better knowledge of vaccines, more positive attitudes, increased adherence to vaccination schedules, and higher completion rates (5-8). However, a few studies reported no significant association between education and vaccination outcomes (9). Overall, the evidence suggests that parental education, especially maternal education positively influences vaccine uptake and timeliness, though contextual factors such as income, cultural beliefs, and health service access may moderate these effects (10).
CONCLUSIONS:
Parental education is a key determinant of routine childhood immunization outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. Integrating targeted educational and health literacy interventions into immunization programs, particularly for parents with limited schooling, could enhance vaccine uptake and equity. Future research should evaluate promising interventions and explore how education interacts with other social determinants to shape immunization outcomes. Figure 1&2 : https://eu.docworkspace.com/d/sIBuCv_r3Af6708sG?sa=601.1037 Table of
RESULTS:
https://eu.docworkspace.com/d/sIFqCv_r3AcS-08sG?sa=601.1037
Routine childhood immunization remains one of the most effective public health interventions to reduce preventable diseases and mortality (1). Despite progress in sub-Saharan Africa, disparities in vaccination acceptance and coverage persist, with parental education identified as a key determinant (2). This study aimed to assess the role of parental education on childhood immunization in sub-Saharan Africa.
METHODS:
This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines (3) and was registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251069991). A comprehensive search of PubMed, Google Scholar, AJOL, and DOAJ was conducted for studies published between 2020 and June 2025, which yielded 847 records. Eligible studies focused on the influence of parental education on routine childhood immunization in sub-Saharan Africa. Following full-text review, twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for risk of bias assessment, and findings were synthesized thematically (4).
RESULTS:
Higher maternal and paternal education was associated with better knowledge of vaccines, more positive attitudes, increased adherence to vaccination schedules, and higher completion rates (5-8). However, a few studies reported no significant association between education and vaccination outcomes (9). Overall, the evidence suggests that parental education, especially maternal education positively influences vaccine uptake and timeliness, though contextual factors such as income, cultural beliefs, and health service access may moderate these effects (10).
CONCLUSIONS:
Parental education is a key determinant of routine childhood immunization outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. Integrating targeted educational and health literacy interventions into immunization programs, particularly for parents with limited schooling, could enhance vaccine uptake and equity. Future research should evaluate promising interventions and explore how education interacts with other social determinants to shape immunization outcomes. Figure 1&2 : https://eu.docworkspace.com/d/sIBuCv_r3Af6708sG?sa=601.1037 Table of
RESULTS:
https://eu.docworkspace.com/d/sIFqCv_r3AcS-08sG?sa=601.1037
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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