Awareness about pulse polio immunization among the general population in Delhi.
A study was conducted in three intensive pulse polio immunization (IPPI) centres in Delhi on 24th September, 2000 to assess the awareness about poliomyelitis and the IPPI programme. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit the information from 182 accompanying persons (41 males and 141 females) by qualified medical doctors. Majority (92.9%) of the respondents knew that the administered drops were polio vaccine. Major sources of information were television (32.9%), relatives or friends (24.2%), health staff (20.9%), poster or leaflets (15.9%). Only 18.1% knew the next IPPI day. Out of 43 claiming to know the number of subsequent IPPI days during 2000, only 22 could tell correctly. A large number of respondents (86.2%) knew that IPPI would help in preventing polio in children. Paralysis of limbs as a clinical feature of polio was known to 70.3%, 45.6% knew that polio cannot be cured and 21.9% perceived that polio could also lead to death. The nationwide intensive awareness campaign for polio eradication was found to be partially effective in disseminating the information.
Singh
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MM
Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi-110 002. megharita@yahoo.com
Bano
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Dabas
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Mehra
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000517:prevention & control*