Abstract
Malaria remains one of the leading public health threats to children in the sub-Saharan region. Despite the development of the malaria vaccine, widespread adoption continues to be a challenge. This paper explores the factors that influence community engagement as a plausible strategy in promoting the uptake of the malaria vaccine among children under five. A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study design was employed using structured questionnaires. Using a systematic sampling method, a sample of 1,183 was recruited based on sample size table for 2,500 under five population. The study utilized bivariate analysis and random forest analysis to identify important factors influencing community participation in malaria vaccine promotion. The results from the random forest analysis highlighted perception of vaccine effectiveness, educational level, and age as the most relevant factors influencing community engagement. Additionally, the study identified vaccine safety and acceptability as moderate factors that could significantly contribute to promoting community engagement as a strategy for increasing malaria vaccine uptake among children under five. The findings further highlight that individuals with high educational attainment tend to prioritize vaccine effectiveness and safety, while those with lower educational attainment prioritize factors such as vaccine cost and cultural considerations to effectiveness. By tailoring educational programs to address demographic variations in perceptions of vaccine efficacy, community engagement can be leveraged to promote widespread uptake of the malaria vaccine among children under five.