Evaluating the Effectiveness of Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency’s Communication Strategies in Mitigating Polio Vaccine Hesitancy in Minna, Niger State

Abstract

Despite Nigeria being certified free of wild poliovirus in 2020, polio eradication remains fragile, as reflected in the 2024 resurgence of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). This study was conducted among caregivers attending selected primary healthcare centres in Minna, Niger State, where vaccine hesitancy continues to pose a challenge. This study examines the communication strategies employed by the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency (NSPHCDA) to address polio vaccine hesitancy among caregivers at selected Primary Healthcare Centres in Minna, Niger State. The setting is characterised by infrastructural deficits and security concerns that complicate immunisation efforts. The research addresses a gap in empirical studies, which often aggregate findings nationally by providing focused insight into local-level perceptions within this specific high-risk context. Employing a descriptive survey design, 95 caregivers were selected from four primary health centres using simple random sampling. Data on campaign influence, exposure, channels, and attributes were collected via structured questionnaires. Findings are interpreted within the limits of a descriptive survey design and reflect caregivers’ reported perceptions rather than causal effects of communication exposure. Findings indicate that radio broadcasts and religious gatherings were highly effective in reducing hesitancy, fulfilling the first research objective. However, inconsistencies in message timing and limited integration of digital channels hinder sustained impact, particularly regarding improving vaccine uptake. The study recommends that NSPHCDA enhance outreach to marginalised groups through mobiliser networks, optimise message scheduling, and adopt hybrid and edutainment-based strategies to improve recall and accessibility. By focusing on the Niger State, this research contributes to bridging Northern-centric infrastructure analyses with tailored communication frameworks aimed at promoting equitable immunisation in sub-Saharan Africa.