Tailored Interventions and their Effectiveness in Promoting Childhood Vaccine Acceptance among Young Mothers in Selected Local Communities in Niger State

Abstract

Childhood vaccination remains one of the most effective public health strategies for preventing infectious diseases and reducing childhood mortality. However, vaccine hesitancy among young mothers continues to affect immunization coverage in many rural and semi-urban communities in Nigeria, particularly in Niger State. This study examined tailored interventions and determined their effectiveness in promoting childhood vaccine acceptance among young mothers in selected local communities in Niger State. The study specifically identified factors influencing vaccine hesitancy, assessed tailored intervention strategies, and evaluated their impact on vaccine acceptance. A descriptive cross-sectional survey research design was adopted for the study. The target population comprised young mothers of children aged 0–5 years residing in selected local communities in Niger State. A sample size of 250 respondents was selected using multistage and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, mean scores, and tables. Findings revealed that misinformation, fear of vaccine side effects, religious beliefs, low educational level, and poor access to healthcare services were major factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy among young mothers. The study further showed that community health education, involvement of religious and traditional leaders, mobile vaccination outreach, peer support groups, and SMS reminder systems significantly improved vaccine acceptance. Results indicated that tailored interventions increased awareness, reduced misinformation, improved clinic attendance, and enhanced trust in healthcare providers. The study concluded that culturally sensitive and community-specific interventions are effective in promoting childhood vaccine acceptance among young mothers in Niger State. The study recommended increased government support for community-based immunization campaigns, improved healthcare accessibility, and continuous public enlightenment programmes to sustain positive vaccination behaviours.