Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Knowledge and perceptions of polio and polio immunization in polio high-risk areas of Pakistan

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Public Health Policy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where polio is endemic, and Pakistan reports the most cases in the world. Although the rate is lower than in previous years, the situation remains alarming. We conducted a mixed methods study in high-risk areas of Pakistan to identify knowledge, attitudes, and practices of target populations about polio vaccine and its eradication, and to estimate coverage of routine immunization and oral polio vaccine. We surveyed 10,685 households in Karachi, 2522 in Pishin, and 2005 in Bajaur. Some knowledge of polio is universal, but important misconceptions persist. The findings of this study carry strategic importance for program direction and implementation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Global Polio Eradication Initiative. (2016) History of polio. http://polioeradication.org/polio-today/history-of-polio/, accessed on 16 October 2016.

  2. Global Polio Eradication Initiative. (2014). 10th meeting of the Independent Monitoring Board. Weekly Epidemiological Record, 89(32/33), 361–367.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Global Polio Eradication Initiative. (2016) Data and monitoring, http://polioeradication.org/polio-today/polio-now/wild-poliovirus-list/, accessed on 10 September 2016.

  4. Chang, A., Chavez, E., Hameed, S., Lamb, R.D. and Mixon K. (2016) Eradicating polio in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington DC. Available at https://csis-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/publication/120810_Chang_EradicatingPolio_Web.pdf, accessed on 10 September 2016.

  5. Ghafoor, S. and Sheikh, N. (2016) Eradication and current status of poliomyelitis in Pakistan: Ground realities. Journal of Immunology Research 2016: 6. Article ID 6837824. doi:10.1155/2016/6837824. Available at https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jir/2016/6837824/cta/, accessed on 10 September 2016.

  6. Global Polio Eradication Program. (2016) Global emergency action plan 2012–2013, http://www.polioeradication.org/portals/0/document/resources/strategywork/eap_201205.pdf, accessed on 10 September 2016.

  7. Abid, N., Islam, O. U., Bosan, A., Iqbal, T., Darwish, A., and Bile, K. M. (2010). Pakistan’s fight against poliomyelitis: Introducing innovative strategies to address challenges and attain the goal of eradication. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 16, S5.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Karamat K.A. (2012) Prevalence and control of polio myelitis in Pakistan. Planning Commission of Pakistan. Available at http://www.planningcommission.gov.pk/usefull%20links/Papers/Article%20on%20Polio.pdf, accessed on 10 September 2016.

  9. Khan, T., and Qazi, J. (2013). Hurdles to the global antipolio campaign in Pakistan: An outline of the current status and future prospects to achieve a polio free world. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 67(8), 696–702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Abimbola, S., Malik, A. U., and Mansoor, G. F. (2013). The final push for polio eradication: Addressing the challenge of violence in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria. PLoS Medicine, 10(10), e1001529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Shah, M., Khan, M. K., Shakeel, S., Mahmood, F., Sher, Z., Sarwar, M. B., et al (2011). Resistance of polio to its eradication in Pakistan. Virology Journal, 8(1), 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. UNICEF. (2016) Engaging communities. Available at http://www.unicef.org/immunization/index_communities.html, Accessed on 10 September 2016.

  13. Masood, S. (2015) Polio team attacked in Pakistan. New York Times, Published February 2015. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/15/world/asia/attack-on-polio-vaccination-team-in-pakistan-leaves-one-dead.html?_r=0, accessed on 10 September 2016.

  14. UNICEF Pakistan Country Office. (2012) KAP polio study results. Available on www.sas.upenn.edu/ppe/Events/uniconf_2012/…/Roe.Susan_Final.Paper_000.docx, accessed on 10 September 2016.

  15. HSPH/HORP/UNICEF. (2014) Collaboration for polling. Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) polls in Pakistan and Nigeria. Available at https://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2014/07/Preliminary-Results-for-Polls-in-Pakistan-and-Nigeria.pdf, accessed on 10 September 2016.

  16. Khowaja, A. R., Khan, S. A., Nizam, N., Omer, S. B., and Zaidi, A. (2012). Parental perceptions surrounding polio and self-reported non-participation in polio supplementary immunization activities in Karachi, Pakistan: A mixed methods study. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 90(11), 822–830.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Mushtaq, M. U., Majrooh, M. A., Ullah, M. Z., Akram, J., Siddiqui, A. M., Shad, M. A., et al (2010). Are we doing enough? Evaluation of the Polio Eradication Initiative in a district of Pakistan’s Punjab province: A LQAS study. BMC Public Health, 10(1), 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. World Health Organization. (2005) Immunization coverage cluster survey: Reference manual. Geneva. Available at http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/69087/1/WHO_IVB_04.23.pdf, accessed on 10 September 2016.

  19. National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS) [Pakistan] and ICF International. (2013) Pakistan demographic and health survey 2012–13. Demographic and Health Surveys. Islamabad, Pakistan, and Calverton, Maryland, USA: NIPS and ICF International. Available at https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR290/FR290.pdf, accessed on 16 December 2015.

  20. Hasan, Q., Bosan, A. H., and Bile, K. M. (2010). A review of EPI progress in Pakistan towards achieving coverage targets: Present situation and the way forward. East Mediterranean Health Journal, 16(Suppl), S31–S38.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Ministry of Health, Government of Pakistan. (2015) National emergency action plan for polio eradication, 2015–16, Islamabad. Available at http://reliefweb.int/report/pakistan/national-emergency-action-plan-polio-eradication-2015-2016, accessed on 16 December 2015.

  22. Bhutta, Z. A. (2014). Infectious disease: Polio eradication hinges on child health in Pakistan. Nature, 511(7509), 285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Women and Child Health Division, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi, Pakistan

    Muhammad Atif Habib, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Noshad Ali, Imtiaz Hussain, Farhana Tabassum, Zamir Suhag, Imran Ahmed & Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

  2. Peshawar Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan

    Saeed Anwar

Authors
  1. Muhammad Atif Habib
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sajid Bashir Soofi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Noshad Ali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Imtiaz Hussain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Farhana Tabassum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zamir Suhag
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Saeed Anwar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Imran Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Muhammad Atif Habib.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Habib, M.A., Soofi, S.B., Ali, N. et al. Knowledge and perceptions of polio and polio immunization in polio high-risk areas of Pakistan. J Public Health Pol 38, 16–36 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41271-016-0056-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41271-016-0056-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation