Now that Nigeria is polio-free: the effects that social mobilisation programme on polio immunisation program had on the hard to reach parents of children eligible for immunisation programmes in Nigeria
International NGO Journal
; 16(1):1-8, 2021.
Article
in English
| CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-1789636
ABSTRACT
Vaccination prepares the body's immune system ready to recognise, destroy and remember foreign disease-causing agents when it encounters them. It is the most effective way of averting communicable diseases if fully accepted and demanded by the population at risk of spreading contagious diseases. Social mobilisation has been a critical way of encouraging demands, as well as acceptance and compliance, by the general public for immunisation services. Vaccination campaign against poliovirus by WHO since 1988 was a huge success across the globe except in three countries Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Up until 3 years ago, polio eradication remained a challenge in Nigeria due mainly to non-acceptance of the vaccination by the hard-to-reach (HtoR) group. In this study, carried out at the height of the epidemic in Nigeria, we investigated the effects that social mobilisation on polio vaccination had on the hard-to-reach group. The participants were selected based on three criteria age of the child, religion and social status. Semi-structured interview was employed and data analysed using the thematic content analysis. The results revealed that religion, service factor-distance to health facility and health staff behaviour are the key factors limiting the social mobilisation effort among the HtoR group. Nigeria began to make success only when one of the most respected Muslim leaders took ownership of the campaign for the elimination of polio, which has now placed Nigeria among the polio-free countries. Therefore, effective social mobilisation for vaccination programs of the HtoR group could be achieved faster with the involvement of religious leaders because of the enormous influence they have on their followers. This revelation is very important to note for the success of the upcoming vaccination campaign against COVID-19 disease, now that effective vaccines against the disease have been developed and ready for distribution.
Host Resistance and Immunity [HH600]; Social Psychology and Social Anthropology [UU485]; Prion, Viral, Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens of Humans [VV210]; beliefs; campaigns; children; disease prevention; epidemics; health protection; human diseases; immunization; immunization programmes; parents; poliomyelitis; poliomyelitis vaccines; public health; religion; social mobility; vaccination; vaccines; viral diseases; immune sensitization; Enterovirus C; man; Afghanistan; Nigeria; Central Asia; Asia; Least Developed Countries; low Human Development Index countries; low income countries; West Asia; Enterovirus; Picornaviridae; Picornavirales; positive-sense ssRNA Viruses; ssRNA Viruses; RNA Viruses; viruses; Homo; Hominidae; primates; mammals; vertebrates; Chordata; animals; eukaryotes; ACP Countries; Anglophone Africa; Africa; Commonwealth of Nations; lower-middle income countries; West Africa; Africa South of Sahara; immunization programs; subsaharan Africa; polio; viral infections
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
CAB Abstracts
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
Language:
English
Journal:
International NGO Journal
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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