Abstract

Background: Before Global switch of polio vaccine and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) introduction, beneficiaries must have knowledge about the change and its benefits over the preexisting facilities. Through this study we are trying to assess the knowledge of the caretakers regarding polio, pulse polio immunization (PPI), polio vaccine switch and polio vaccine injection so that new knowledge can be hanged on the peg of their preexisting knowledge.

Objectives: 1. To assess knowledge and practice of caretakers about PPI, polio disease, polio vaccine-injectable form, and polio vaccine switch. 2. To find association of the knowledge and practice of respondents about PPI, polio disease, polio vaccine-injectable form and polio vaccine switch with their literacy.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at pulse polio booth on NID, 2016. Caretakers were interviewed to assess their knowledge and practice about polio disease, polio vaccination, it’s availability in injectable form, and upcoming global polio switch through semi open-ended, pretested questionnaire. Data were entered in excel sheet, analyzed using SPSS version 20, and appropriate statistical tests were applied.

Result: Maximum children were brought to the PPI booth by their grandparents and mothers (73%), source of information to maximum respondents was health staff and television (69%), correct knowledge about the parameters such as whether polio drops be given with mild illness (54%) and signs and symptoms of polio (59%) was fair, but many still consider PPI an overdose (18%), and as a replacement to routine immunization (18%). Respondents’ knowledge was poor about the mode of transmission of disease (7%), eradication status of polio (14%), injectable form of polio vaccine (5%), and polio vaccine switch (30%), and significant association was found between the literacy level and the knowledge of the respondents (p-value < 0.05).

Conclusion: Although government is ready to launch IPV and switch to bivalent oral polio vaccine but knowledge of the caretakers is poor, which can threaten its acceptability.

Key words: Knowledge, polio, polio vaccination, polio vaccine-injectable form, global polio vaccine switch