Importance of Public Health Education:

Polio Immunization in West Africa

1st Annual International
conference of the African
Science Academy Development
Initiative

OPV Safety Controversy, Nigeria Case Study

Background
Polio campaigns suspended in several northern
states
Negative media discussion about safety of vaccine in
national and international media
Trusted community and religious leaders speak out
against polio vaccine
Mistrust in oral polio vaccine leading to nonacceptance

Impact of Negative Communication

OPV
controversy

Negative communication about

polio vaccine in Nigeria:
Decreased acceptance of
vaccine

100
90

Increased number of polio

cases

80

60
50
40
30
20
10

WPV1

J-05

J-04

J-03

0
J-02

Number of cases

70

WPV3

Impact of Negative Communication

Negative communication about polio
vaccine in Nigeria:
Spread of negative vaccine
messages to other parts of Africa
Spread of polio to polio-free
countries from Nigeria

Wild virus type 1

Wild virus type 3

Public health education strategy

Focus: Reaching every child with polio vaccine

Rebuilding public trust

Ensuring high political commitment
Focusing on community/family centered
activities
Sustaining engagement of religious &
traditional leaders, civil society
Increasing media visibility
Community mobilizers in high risk areas

Use of data for public health education

Source of information
in selected states

Non-Compliance Data

60.0

Benue

50.0

OPV Safety

40.0

Child Sick

Kano
30.0

Niger

Religious Belief

Lagos
20.0

No Felt Need

10.0

Political Difference
No care giver consent

ign

he
r
am

sti

tu

pa

t io

Ot

er

Unhappy with Immunization

personnel
Too many rounds

of

i t io

th

eC

na
l In

a lt
He

No

tA

wa

re

Tr
ad

os

qu
e

/C

hW

hu

or
k

rc h

TV

d io
Ra

To
wn

Cr

ie r

0.0

Reason Not given

Key communication elements for building

support for immunization
Grassroots
Policy Change

Media/
Public Awareness

Intensified Advocacy and partnerships

Large scale public flag off
campaigns
President directs Governors to
monitor progress
Engagement of religious and
traditional networks
Working with nomadic groups
Working with private sector,
including mobile phone companies
High level visits to Governors &
religious leaders
Involvement of community leaders

Community education focus

Community mobilizers in high-risk areas
Visits/revisits to non-compliant homes by mobilizers
Flag-offs at community levels
Engagement of local influencers
Religious statements and announcements
Involvement of traditional media local theatre, mobile
cinema, town criers, folk singers
Mass Media radio drama, TV spots, jingles

Media for behaviour change

Broadcasting in national languages
Special broadcasts to minority groups
Media monitoring generating human interest stories
to stimulate adoption of positive behaviours
Folk media including town criers activities
stimulating dialogue
Theatre for Development performances followed by
community dialogue
Mobile cinema shows followed by community
dialogue

Results Increase in acceptance

National Non-compliance Caseload
Nov 04 - May 05

No. of Households

100000
97500
95000
92500
90000
87500
Nov 04

Feb 05

May 05

Results increase in coverage

April 04

Community Mobilisers
deployed in VHR LGAs, August 2004
October 04

May 05

< 80% reported Cov

80-89% reported Cov
> 90% reported Cov

Results Importance of health

education
OPV safety controversy resolved
Increased demand for polio increased coverage during
polio campaigns
Increased understanding of importance of immunization
Increased demand for immunization
Increased support for immunization among key
stakeholders