Get to Know Three of our 2024-2025 Grant Partners (Part 1)

Meet Our Project Teams in the African Region!

Cameroon

This study, led by principal investigators Prof. Nsagha Dickson Shey, Dr. Edgar Mandeng, and Dr. Oben Pamella, aims to understand the context, knowledge, attitudes, and practices of routine immunization across different communities of religious groups, ethnic minorities, remote/rural populations, displaced populations, urban slums, and conflict-affected populations in the Southwest region of Cameroon, one of the lowest-performing regions in terms of immunization coverage. The team will utilize a convergent parallel mixed methods study design that incorporates qualitative observation tools, key informant interviews (KIIs), and focus group discussions (FGDs) of parents of vaccinated and unvaccinated children, community gatekeepers, and community health workers,  and quantitative surveys pre- and post-intervention. The team hopes to utilize evidence from this study to provide technical assistance to health districts in updating communications plans and microplanning in this region. Co-investigators include Dr. Kwalar Ginyu, Dr. Njedock Nelson Sontsa, and Ms. Ngoe Martha, and the project’s technical advisors are Dr. Sangwe Clovis Nchinjoh, RD, and Dr. Budzi Michael Ngenge.

“The proposed research aims to bridge a critical gap in understanding the efficacy of influencer-led SBCC strategies in promoting routine immunization within underserved communities. By investigating the impact of these strategies on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP), this research will generate robust evidence to inform the development and implementation of effective vaccination policies and programs. The findings from this study will provide valuable insights into the factors influencing vaccine acceptance and uptake within specific communities in Cameroon. This knowledge will enable policymakers and program managers to tailor immunization interventions to address the unique needs and challenges of underserved populations. Furthermore, the research will contribute to the development of evidence-based guidelines for utilizing influencers as change agents in public health campaigns. By demonstrating the effectiveness of influencer-led SBCC strategies, this research will advocate for their integration into broader immunization programs and contribute to the global goal of achieving herd immunity and eradicating vaccine-preventable diseases.”  

Ethiopia

Prof. Zewdie Birhanu, a SBCC specialist at Jimma University, serves as the principal investigator this study, aims to enhance the acceptance and uptake of routine immunization in Ethiopia by identifying diverse factors contributing to immunization practices in mix of urban and rural settings within Jimma Zone. To first gather circulating misinformation, the team will utilize women’s networks, community mobilization groups, and the Health Development Army to collect and develop a weekly log of circulating rumors and misinformation around routine vaccination. Utilizing information gathered in this rapid community assessment and a human-centered design approach, the team will then co-create and pilot a tailored Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) intervention in a participatory workshop with local stakeholders and health sector influencers. Investigators will evaluate the piloted intervention through a pre- and post-intervention knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey with a representative sample of mothers who are primary care givers from both urban and rural villages. The team expects to utilize the rich evidence generated from this project to develop policy briefs and hold policy dialogues with regional health bureaus as well as district and MOH officials. Prof. Birhanu’s co-investigators include two colleagues from Jimma University – Prof. Morankar Sudhakar and Dr. Yohannes Kebede; and Neima Temam, who is the EPI Manager at the Jimma Zonal Health Department.

“This research grant will investigate the factors behind low acceptance and uptake of routine immunization in Ethiopia, with a special focus on zero-dose cases. By identifying the key socio-cultural, economic, and health system barriers, the study will provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing the immunization program. Collaborating closely with communities and stakeholders, the project will co-design culturally relevant Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) strategies to tackle misinformation and vaccine concerns. These strategies will be piloted and evaluated, emphasizing community engagement and gender-responsive approaches. The insights gained will shape policy and programmatic recommendations, which will be shared through policy briefs and workshops to enhance immunization efforts across Ethiopia.”

Nigeria

This project, led by principal investigator, Ms. Ganiyat Eshikhena, aims to conduct social listening of soon-to-be parents, through social media scanning and polling to identify circulating misinformation, disinformation, and general drivers of zero-dose and under-immunized children among an emerging generation of parents in Nigeria.  The team will first develop and validate a taxonomy of routine immunization, drawing on the Global Routine Immunization Strategies and Practices (GRISP) strategy developed by UNICEF. Then utilizing Talkwalker, a subscription-based social listening tool, the investigators will analyze data from social media platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and other digital news, blogs, and forums in Nigeria to develop weekly reports and recommendations that will be shared the EPI program. Findings from this first phase will be used to develop a social medical strategy for the EPI program that is co-designed with key identified influencers. With evidence from this study, the team will collaborate with key stakeholders and partners within the Nigerian EPI program. Following a national validation workshop of the co-designed strategy, the team will then monitor the implementation of the strategy and employ A/B testing and surveys to collect post-intervention data on vaccine confidence and uptake. Other team personnel include Geraldine Mbagwu, Uche Ibe, Dr. Chijioke Kaduru, (SBCC specialist), Dr. Ojonimi Alfred, and Dr. Ifeoma Idigbe (research advisor).

“The research grant aims to advance vaccination policy and programming by providing insights into the health information-seeking behaviors and vaccine-related challenges of emerging and new parents in Nigeria, particularly those referred to as Gen Z. By focusing on the evolving needs of Nigeria’s young population and leveraging digital strategies, this research grant will improve routine immunization uptake and chart new pathways for engaging emerging and new parents in vaccine-related topics. Findings from the social listening will identify circulating misinformation, its sources, and narratives, informing policymakers and program implementers to address infodemics and barriers to immunization. The lessons learned will be applied in Nigeria and other similar settings, advancing vaccination policy and programming on a broader scale.” 

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Through employing a time-location sampling method within the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, the project team, led by principal investigator Ange Karume, will identify key populations of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are also parents / child caregivers. Subsequently, a questionnaire will be administered to this study population to assess the drivers of zero-dose children, gathering evidence on routine immunization-related information and communication needs, and vaccination attitudes and behaviors. The research team will then engage with identified trusted community influencers to co-design and pilot an SBCC intervention, with the intent to develop a tested and validated communication strategy specifically targeting this marginalized and hard-to-reach population. Other project personnel include Rodrigue Bahati, Laurent Bujiriri, Deogratias Cibinda Nitale, Jennifer Kalonji, and Dr. Ifeoma Idigbe.

“This research grant aims to identify some of the barriers and misinformation around vaccines and vaccination among migrant communities in DRC and then developing targeted strategies to address them. The learnings from this research will contribute to developing more nuanced strategies to reach one of the significant populations that have been constantly missed in immunization programming. This will be critical to shaping new policies and programming strategies to reach migrant populations in the country towards achieving health for all and the IA [Immunization Agenda] 2030. The intervention will provide insights that will guide future vaccination programs and policies, not just in the DRC but potentially in other countries facing similar challenges with transient or displaced populations.”