title: Characteristics of persons refusing oral polio vaccine during the immunization plus days - Sokoto, Nigeria 2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nigeria, the only African country endemic for wild poliovirus, adopted Immunization Plus Days (IPD) to eradicate polio. Refusal of oral polio vaccine (OPV) by heads of households is a significant challenge. In Sokoto state, we determined characteristics of heads of households refusing OPV during IPD in 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate reasons for refusals, we conducted a case control study among heads ofhouseholds accepting or refusing OPV vaccine. Noncompliant households were defined as households refusing OPV vaccination in last three rounds of IPDs while compliant households were those accepting vaccination. Interviewers administered a questionnaire to the heads of households to obtain information on socio-demographics, media habits, and knowledge of IPD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 121 (60 cases and 61 controls) interviews, 88 (73%) were from Sokoto north. Noncompliant heads of households were more likely to lack tertiary education (OR = 3.7, 95% CI, 1.6 - 9.2), believe that OPV is not safe (OR = 22, 95% CI, 7.1 - 76), lack access to functional radio (OR = 4.4, 95% CI, 1.4 - 15) and television (OR = 9.4, 95% CI, (1.9 - 63) andget information about IPD from town announcers (OR = 3.9, 95% CI, 1.3 - 12).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that noncompliant heads of households compared to compliant heads of households had low level of education, lacked knowledge of immunization, and had negative attitude towards OPV. They get information about OPV from town announcers and lacked access to functional radio and television. We recommended training of town announcers in polio communication and use of key communication messages preceding every round of IPD.
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Abdulaziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kabir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sabitu
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nguku
authors.affiliation: National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abanida
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Sadik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sheidu
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalhat
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dankoli
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Saheed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gidado
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Idris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Suleiman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004522:Educational Status; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007872:Legal Guardians / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral; D011845:Radio; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral
keywords: Immunization; OPV; Vaccine refusal; WPV; attitude; knowledge; noncompliance; poliomyelitis