Role of Religious Leaders in Health Communication and Vaccine Promotion in Muslim Communities of Kano State, North West Nigeria

Religious leaders exert profound influence on health attitudes and behaviours in Muslim-majority communities across North West Nigeria, and their engagement in health communication and vaccine promotion has been identified as critical to overcoming vaccine hesitancy. This study examines the role of religious leaders in health communication and vaccine promotion in Muslim communities of Kano State. A mixed-methods cross-sectional design is applied, combining structured interviews with 120 Islamic scholars and imams across six local government areas and community surveys of 300 congregation members. Quantitative instruments assess the frequency of health messaging from religious leaders, topics communicated, congregation trust in religious health messages, and vaccine acceptance levels. Six focused group discussions with community health workers and religious leaders explore collaboration mechanisms and barriers. SPSS is used for quantitative analysis, while qualitative data are coded thematically. Evidence from the 2021 Nigeria Routine Immunisation Bottleneck Assessment identifies religious leader endorsement as the most influential predictor of oral polio vaccine acceptance in Kano's urban wards. The Social Network Theory and the Extended Parallel Process Model inform the study's analytical framework. Findings will support the Kano State Immunisation Programme and the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria in structuring a replicable religious leader engagement curriculum for vaccine promotion. Keywords: religious leaders, health communication, vaccine promotion, Muslim communities, Kano State.