awareness about nids program in a rural area of Al-Nahrawan district of Baghdad

ABSTRACT

A cross sectional study was conducted to explore the awareness of the local population of AL-Nahrawan district about National Immunization days [NIDs] and their major sources of information about the campaign. A total of 476 households, selected randomly during the first NIDs round of the year 2000, were screened using pretested questionnaires. The questionnaires include questions about various aspects of NIDs campaign. There were 61.8% females, 70% aged between 20-39 years and about 79% were either illiterate or can just read and write. The study reveal that 88.2% of the respondents were aware of the NIDs but only 10.5% knew the date of the next NIDs and less than half of the respondents [43.3%] were understood the purpose of the program. Tow aspects of the NIDs [whether a previously immunized child is involved in NIDs and whether involved children should be vaccinated again in the next NIDs were understood by the majority of the respondents 92.2% and 78.2% respectively]. Among the various media used to increase awareness of population about NIDs, the television was the most popular. The general awareness about NIDs program in AL-Nahrawan district is acceptable which probably reflect the successfulness of the program in Iraq. Some points about the program need to be verified and reinforced