Rural Inhabitants' Perception-Induced Immunisation Status: The Case of Yellow Fever Vaccination in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

BACKGROUND

Vaccines effectively reduce infectious disease mortality worldwide, including in Africa. Immunization is critical to lowering morbidity and improving public health, yet uptake in some rural areas remains low. This study assessed perceptions of yellow fever (YF) vaccination and their influence on immunization status among residents across 10 rural communities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

METHODS

A community-based cross-sectional study involving 130 respondents used structured questionnaires to assess knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward YF vaccination. Logistic regression identified factors associated with immunization status, with significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Most participants (96.9%) had good or fair awareness of vaccination, and nearly all (98.5%) valued staying healthy. However, many lacked understanding of vaccination benefits (89.2%) and vaccine-preventable diseases (66.2%). Significant predictors of non-immunization included poor vaccination awareness (AOR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.48-3.12, p = 0.009), poor knowledge of benefits (AOR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.26-3.35, p = 0.042), lack of campaign awareness (AOR = 2.98, 95% CI: 2.62-5.14, p = 0.038), and perceived poor campaign coverage (AOR = 3.52, 95% CI: 1.57-7.49, p = 0.037).

CONCLUSION

While general awareness of vaccination is high, substantial knowledge gaps and limited campaign visibility hinder uptake. Strengthened public health education and broader outreach could improve vaccination rates and reduce preventable disease burden.