title: [Knowledge, and attitudes of Civil Society Organizations in the implementation of the Expanded Program on Immunization in Côte d'Ivoire].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to assess the level of involvement of leaders of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in implementation of routine EPI activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of the knowledge and attitudes of CSOs concerning implementation of routine EPI activities in the health district of Adiaké (Côte d'Ivoire).
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study shows that 77.1% of CSO leaders were literate and 92.9% of them were practicing Catholics or Muslims. They had a good knowledge of the existence of EPI (97.1%) and EPI target diseases, but were ignorant about the immunization schedule (82%). 90% of CSO leaders considered EPI to be an important activity for the prevention of childhood diseases. They considered the reception in immunization units to be satisfactory (60%) and believed that rumours about the sterility of women were the cause of refusal of vaccination by communities. Although 41.4% of leaders had participated in social mobilization activities, none had participated in the mobilization of resources.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vaccination was not rejected by CSO leaders, but their lack of participation in implementation of EPI could induce errors and lead them to believe the rumours and refuse vaccination of their community.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effective integration of the socio-cultural bases of communities in which immunization programmes are conducted will promote the adhesion of the people responsible for these programmes.
authors.forename: Gnissan Henri Auguste
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Lepri Bernadin Nicaise
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Aka
authors.forename: Nogbou Jean Marc
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Manouan
authors.forename: Odile Angbo
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Effi
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Douba
authors.forename: Pétronille
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zengbé-Acray
authors.forename: Youssouf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Traoré
authors.forename: Sory Ibrahim
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Soumahoro
authors.forename: Koko Aude
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ak
authors.forename: N'Cho Simplice
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Dagnan
mesh_terms: D007560:Cote d'Ivoire; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009938:Organizations