Objective: To assess polio immunization coverage, awareness about polio
& its vaccination and to find reasons of polio vaccination refusals in districts
Swat and Shangla (the two conflict affected areas in recent past).
Methodology: This Cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in Swat
and Shangla districts, KPK, from January to July 2014. It was a door to door
survey of 800 families selected by random sampling from four different localities
of these two districts. Information gathered included educational status
of both parents, number of children less than 5 years, polio vaccination history
(both routine immunization and house to house approach) complete polio
vaccination history, polio awareness level of parents and reasons of refusals
to polio vaccination. Data collected was analyzed with SPSS version 21. Chisquare
test was used to ascertain the association between various categorical
variables and p value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: There were total 1775 children in age group 0-5 years in the 800
households under study. The children, who got vaccinated against polio, were
1392 (78 %). Out of rest, 294 (16.5 %) had not been vaccinated against polio
and the parents of remaining 89 (5%) children did not remember whether
vaccination against polio was done or not. There was a significant association
between educational status (minimum matriculate) of parents and polio vaccination
(p=0.000).
Conclusion: The present day situation of polio vaccination is encouraging in
areas under research. Law and order situation, illiteracy and misperceptions
about the vaccine should be addressed along with the capacity building of the
health care staff as soon as possible through sincere coordinated efforts for
complete eradication of polio by all concerned institutions.