Ebola virus disease is a very serious disease, with a case-fatality rate of around 50%, and a high epidemic potential. Vaccination is a vital intervention to stop the spread of disease and prevent future epidemics. The aim of this study was to carry out a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the level of acceptability of the Ebola vaccine among the population of sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted an exhaustive systematic search to identify relevant studies. we included observational or cross-sectional studies. we conducted an extensive search of electronic libraries (Pubmed/medline, Google scholar and Index Medicus Africa ) covering the period January 2014 to December 2024. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Data were analyzed using a random-effects model. Q test Cochran and I² index were used to assess heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses were performed according to year, country, gender, and sample size. Publication bias was assessed graphically by a funnel plot and statistically by Egger test. A total of 11 studies involving 14,826 participants were included. The meta-analysis found that the level of acceptability of the Ebola vaccine was 74.0% (95% CI: 65.0–82.0). Heterogeneity between studies was highly significant (I²=99.16%, P < 0.001). The level of acceptability being slightly higher in male-dominated studies (75.6%; 95% CI:71.4% − 79.6%) and in studies conducted after 2020 (78.4%; 95% CI: 63.1% − 90.4%). Across countries, the highest level of acceptability was recorded in Nigeria, (79.9%; 95% CI: 76.5% − 83.1%). The main reasons for vaccine hesitancy included fear of adverse effects, distrust of health authorities, and misinformation. Ebola vaccine acceptability in sub-Saharan Africa remains moderate. Although this level indicates encouraging progress since 2020, it may still be insufficient to ensure optimal population coverage during outbreaks. Targeted community engagement, trust-building, and proactive management of misinformation are essential to enhance vaccine acceptance and achieve coverage goals.
Matangi et al. (Fri,) studied this question.