DEMAND FOR MALARIA VACCINE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CAREGIVERS OF UNDER FIVE CHILDREN IN WEST DEMBIA DISTRICT, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA, 2019

Abstract

Abstract Background: Malaria is a disease caused by protozoans of the genus Plasmodium and continues to be one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. In Ethiopia malaria case incidence is still high. An effective malaria vaccine are a valuable addition to the available tools for malaria prevention. However, the current lack of assessment of the economic and public acceptance of a malaria vaccine may cast uncertainty on the adoption of malaria vaccination. Therefor assess the demand for malaria vaccine is important. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess demand for malaria vaccine and associated factors among care-givers of under five children in West Dembia district, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 01- April 30/2019 among 604 care-givers of under five children in West Dembia district. Multistage stratified random sampling technique was used to select study participants. The data was entered in to Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported to STATA software version 14 for data analyses. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify statistically significant association with demand for malaria vaccine. Results A total of 604 care givers of under-five children were participated in the study, with a response rate of 95.3%.In this study the overall demand for malaria vaccine was 60.6% (95%CI: 56.6, 64.4%). Educational status (AOR =3.3; 95% CI: 1.1, 9.9), place of residence (AOR=1.8; 95% CI: 1.0, 3.0), caregiver experience for child vaccination (AOR =2.1; 95% CI: 1.3, 3.5), malaria attack of the care-givers within last year (AOR =2.6; 95% CI:1.7, 4.1), Household size (AOR=1.6; 95% CI:1.1, 2.4), knowledge of caregivers (AOR=3.6; 95% CI: 1.8, 6.9) and Wealth status of the caregivers (AOR= 3.2; 95% CI: 1.9, 5.2) were significantly associated factors with demand for malaria vaccine. Conclusion and recommendation: The overall demand for malaria vaccine among caregivers of under five children in West Dembia district was found to be low. Educational status, place of residence, care-giver experience for child vaccination, malaria attack of the caregivers within last year, Household size, knowledge of caregivers about malaria symptoms, risk factors, and methods of prevention and control and wealth status of the caregivers

were statistical significant with demand for malaria vaccine. Therefore, the policy makers can introduce a subsidized RTS, S vaccine market rather than freely give for all to improve the demand for malaria vaccine. Key word: Demand, Malaria vaccine, Care-givers of under-five, West Dembia, Ethiopia.