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prevented. They all affirmed that polio can be prevented through the immunization of children from 0-59 months. As indicated in table 6, most respondents (60.91%) are of the opinion that polio can be prevented by immunization of children from 0-59 months. Respondents mostly at Dange Shuni in Sokoto (70%), followed by Sabon Fagi, Giwa (64.30%), Kwarbai Zaria (56%) and Sokoto Municipal (52.08%), were of the view that polio can be prevented through immunization of children from 0-59 months of birth. It can be deduced that polio can be prevented through the immunization of children below 5 years. It is also important to note that there are other views on how polio can be prevented apart from immunization as the respondents have believed. Also, 33.33% of respondents in Sokoto Municipal believed that polio can be prevented by being faithful to God. In addition, 16% of respondents in Kwarbai Zaria were of the view that polio can be prevented through prayers. Participants in the focus group discussions also agreed that immunization can prevent polio in children aged between 0-59months. In the same sessions, there were few dissenting voices as some respondents still believed that it is the will of God and only through prayers polio can be prevented.
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Figure 2: Respondents’ Feelings if their Child is not immunized with Polio Vaccine
82
18
77.65
22.45
93.75
6.25
92
8 0
20 40 60 80 100
Kwarbai Sabon Fagi Sokoto Municipal
Dange Shuni
Feel Bad Feel Ok
Field survey, 2014 X² = -78.68 Alpha level ɑ = 0.05, df 3, X² critical = 7.815
The bar chart above presents result from the four LGAs on feelings and reactions of the respondents what would happen if their children are not immunized with polio vaccine. It shows that 86.29% out of 197 respondents sampled would feel bad if their child is not immunized with polio vaccine. This means that majority of the parents/guardians in the four local governments would have bad feelings or would not be happy if their child misses polio immunization. It can be observed that 22.45% of respondents in Sabon Fagi Giwa and 18% in Kwarbai Zaria said that nothing is wrong if their child is not immunized of polio vaccine. This means that some parents do not worry about what would happen to their children if they fail present their children for immunization against polio. This presents a worrisome situation as there are still few individuals that are not keen in making sure that their children are immunized.
Nevertheless, the result from the Chi-square proved a significant conformity among the four local governments under study. They mostly agreed that they will feel bad if their kids are not immunized (X² = -78.68 Alpha level ɑ = 0.05, df 3, X² critical = 7.815). That means the general mode of parents in Kaduna and Sokoto states are bad when their children are not immunized with polio vaccine. The change of attitude can be attributed to the health belief they have on the benefits of polio immunization. They have been provided with information and now they are knowledgeable on polio immunization.
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The intense skepticism and refusal of parents to immunize their children even led to official suspension of immunization campaigns in Kano State (Renne, 2006; Yahaya, 2007).
Consequently, polio immunization advocacy has been playing a key role in mobilizing communities towards getting their children immunized while also securing increased commitments from national and local policy makers. Advocacy for polio immunization in Nigeria also entails dispelling rumours and various conspiracy theories about the oral polio vaccine. Also, through traditional leaders, religious leaders, opinion leaders, health experts and interventionist-personnel, viable information on how polio can be prevented in the society can easily reach parents with understanding and persuasion. This is what the two-step flow idea is emphasizing- that is using the hierarchy that exists in social strata in the community to pass enlightenment and educative information to the last strata which happens to be households.
Figure 3: Respondents’ Views on what will happen to their child when he or she misses Oral Polio Vaccine during NIDS.
10 6
16 56
12 8.16
0 14.28
64.3
12.24 33.33
0 4.16
52.08
10.41 14 2
12 70
0 2 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Kwarbai Sabon Fagi Sokoto Mun. Dange Shuni
NT develop well Lose hearing Be paralyzed Be alright Don't know
Field survey, 2014
Figure 3 depicts respondents‘ views on what will happen to their children when they miss oral polio vaccine during National Immunization Days (NIDs). A total of 120 respondents, representing 60.91%, said their children would be alright even though they (children) miss oral
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polio vaccine during National Immunization Days (NIDs). Also, 33 respondents representing 16.24% opined that their children will not develop very well when they (children) miss oral polio vaccine during National Immunization Days (NIDs). Therefore, 23 respondents, representing 11.66%, said their child may be paralyzed if he or she misses oral polio vaccine during National Immunization Days (NIDs). It can be seen that though most respondents wish their child well if he or she misses oral polio vaccine during National Immunization Days, notwithstanding, there is great need to get their child vaccinated as prevention is better than cure. Also, the chi-square result shows the conformity that exists among the four communities studied on what will happen to their children when they miss oral polio vaccine. The respondents (X² -70.72, Alpha level ɑ = 0.05, dF 12, X² critical = 21.026) agreed that their children will be alright when they misses oral polio vaccine during National Immunization Days. This indicates that more education on polio immunization is needed in the northern states of Nigeria.
Figure 4: Respondents’ views on whether a paralyzed child can become a risk to other children
2 82
14
10.2 77.55
12.24
0 100
0
4 92
4 0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Kwarbai Sabon Fagi Sokoto Municipal Dange Shuni
Yes No
Don't Know
Field survey, 2014
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From figure 4, it is clearly stated that most parents do not wish their children to be paralyzed through interpersonal contact with a paralyzed child. Most of the respondents (87.81%) believed that a paralyzed child cannot become a risk to other children in their area.