ORAL POLIO VACCINE REFUSAL PATTERN IN KUMBOTSO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KANO STATE, NORTHERN NIGERIA

Poliomyelitis is a disease caused by a virus, affecting the nervous system and resulting in paralysis in survivors. It is transmitted through the faeco-oral route and may result in the death of those affected if the respiratory muscles are involved. Refusal of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) administration to children, by their parents and caregivers, is a difficulty faced by the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) in multiple endemic areas. The reasons advanced were mostly on too many OPV campaigns, the possibility of being a mode of birth control and many other different manifestations of OPV refusal. A cross-sectional survey was used, in the course of four rounds of the polio campaign activities. Qualitative data concerning community perceptions were collected through focussed group discussions and interviews with mothers/caregivers, key community informants and local health managers. While quantitative data collection was done using a questionnaire survey of mothers and community influencers. A total of 400 interviews were conducted, females were higher in number 207 (51.8%) than the males 193 (48.3%). The age of the interviewees ranged from 20 to 54 years, and all had some level of education; a majority had primary education 170 (42.5%) while the least had western education up to tertiary level 18 (4.5%). Caregivers refuse OPV administration to their wards mainly because of fear of side effects, religious beliefs, and too many rounds. Communication strategies by the programme implementers should be aimed at increasing awareness of poliomyelitis as a real health threat and educating the people about the usefulness of the vaccine. Partners in polio eradication should collaborate with other health agencies and ministries to improve primary healthcare packages in order to address identified other health and social needs.