There is a low uptake of tetanus vaccination in Kawempe division, Uganda, driven by a lack of awareness of the importance of maternal tetanus immunisation. The collaborative public engagement project 'Increasing maternal immunisation awareness by working with women influencers in Kawempe Division, Uganda' conducted between Makerere University Johns Hopkins University (MUJHU) Care Ltd/MUJHU Research Collaboration, Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit (MRC/UVRI &LSHTM), and St George’s University of London (SGUL) and led by Mary Kyohere from MUJHU Care Ltd explored the understanding of potential barriers to delivery and uptake of maternal vaccines. It was found that women had limited knowledge of and concerns over the effectiveness and safety of vaccines to themselves and their unborn babies. The women indicated that husbands, peers, mothers and mothers-in-law are key influencers to uptake of maternal immunisation.

Twenty community influencers were identified from 10 parishes surrounding Kawempe National Referral Hospital, a maternal and child health facility. These were trained on maternal vaccination using the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) Vaccination Handbook, after which they went on a door-to-door sensitisation campaign to raise awareness of maternal vaccination. Over 900 community members were approached in this way.

The community influencers also advised on scripts for a short film and radio spot messages on maternal vaccination. The MoH reviewed, advised and approved the scripts prior to roll-out. The film was shown during ten community engagement sessions to over 430 people mobilised by the community influencers, and discussion was held between project staff, community influencers and community members in attendance on maternal vaccination benefits, dispelling myths and answering questions. The radio-spot message was broadcast over three radio stations, two of which major in Luganda, the local language predominant in the area and the third majoring in English. Three radio talk shows were also held tackling the same topic.

The messages were well received and the involvement of men in the campaign was appreciated as pregnancy and maternal health are widely viewed as women’s issues. 63% of the community had heard the radio spot. It can be concluded that community mobilisation is a useful tool to increase vaccine awareness in Kampala.