Conference Abstract | Volume 8, Abstract ELIC2025189 (Oral 129) | Published: 15 Aug 2025
Esther Osemudiamen Okogbenin1,&, Charlotte Kriebel2,3,4,, Benjamin Aweh4, Olukunle Micheal Obagaye4, Omonefe Joy Seb-Akahomen4, Paul Erohubie1, Francis Erah5, Edmund Akpaikpe4, Kelly Iraoya5, Chukwuemeka Ohanaka1, Gloria Eifediyi5, Elizabeth Agho5, Patricia Nwokike4, Babatunde Ayodele1, Oshozimhede Emeghomhe Iyalomhe5, Marta Okonofua5, Pristar Omogbai5, Osahogie Edeawe5, Joseph Okoeguale5,6, Amir-Hosseyn Yassari7, Lena Jelinek7, Micheal Ramharter2,3, Cyril Erameh5,8, Sylvanus Akhalufo Okogbenin5,6, Till Frederik Omansen,2,3,4
1Department of Psychiatry, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria, 2Department of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine & I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, 3Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany, 4German Center for Infection Research, Partner Sites Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, 5Institute of Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers and Emergent Pathogens, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria, 6Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria, 7Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, 8Department of Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
&Corresponding author: Esther Osemudiamen Okogbenin, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo, Nigeria. Email:eokogbenin@gmail.com
Received: 04 May 2025, Accepted: 09 Jul 2025, Published: 15 Aug 2025
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Acutely ill patients, Lassa fever, stigma, perceptions, vaccine acceptance
©Esther Osemudiamen Okogbenin et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Esther Osemudiamen Okogbenin et al., Assessment of vaccine acceptance and perceptions of Lassa fever among acutely ill patients in Edo State, Nigeria: Findings from a cross-sectional study. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2025;8(ConfProc5):00129. https://doi.org/10.37432/jieph-confpro5-00129
Lassa fever (LF) is a viral haemorrhagic illness endemic to West Africa, with case fatality rates up to 30% among hospitalized patients. As a high-consequence disease like Ebola, LF may provoke fear, stigma, and misconceptions, potentially hindering healthcare access and vaccine acceptance. However, research on vaccine acceptance and perceptions remains limited. This study aimed to explore attitudes toward LF and potential vaccines among patients in affected communities
From February 2023 to February 2024, a cross-sectional study was conducted among patients admitted to the LF isolation ward at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State, Nigeria. A structured Likert-scale questionnaire assessed beliefs about LF severity, fear, stigma, and attitudes towards vaccines and clinical trials.
Among 105 surveyed Lassa fever (LF) patients (median age 34 years [IQR 25–44]; 58% male), 98% agreed that LF requires hospital treatment, and 87% believed it spreads easily from person to person. A majority (73%) reported being scared by the illness, while 58% expressed fear of reinfection.
Regarding stigma, 49% felt comfortable discussing their LF illness openly, whereas 33% preferred to keep it private. About a third (35%) were concerned that others might treat them differently, and 25% admitted feeling ashamed of having LF. Furthermore, 34% believed LF survivors face stigma or social exclusion, and 30% feared being stigmatized or excluded. Up to 83% believed LF vaccines could be effective, 88% were willing to be vaccinated, and 80% would vaccinate their children. However, willingness to participate in research was moderate, with 60% willing to participate in vaccine trials and 50% in drug studies.
Patients with LF reported substantial emotional distress and fear of social exclusion. The discrepancy between vaccine acceptance and lower trial participation underscores the need for targeted community engagement and education to foster trust in future vaccine and therapeutic initiatives.
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