title: Muslim Scholars' Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceived Barriers Towards Polio Immunization in Pakistan.
abstract: Pakistan is one of the two countries where polio remains endemic. Among multiple reasons of polio prevalence, false religious beliefs are accounted as major barriers towards polio immunization in Pakistan. Within this context, religious scholars are now engaged in polio immunization campaigns to dismantle the myths and battle the resurgence of polio in Pakistan. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and perceived barriers of Muslim scholars towards polio immunization in Pakistan. A descriptive, cross-sectional survey of Muslim scholars was conducted in Quetta and Peshawar divisions of Pakistan. From October to December 2015, a convenience sample of 770 Muslim scholars was recruited from the local mosques and religious institutions to participate in this study. Knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers were assessed by using self-administered, anonymous and pretested questionnaire. Descriptive and regression analyses were used to express the results with p < 0.05 taken as significant. Three hundred and forty-eight (45.2 %) participants exhibited good knowledge about polio with a mean score of 7.16 ± 2.12 (based on 14 questions). Knowledge gaps were identified about the transmission (32.6 %) and consequences of poliovirus (39.9 %). Overall, 527 (68.4 %) participants showed positive attitudes towards polio immunization with a mean attitude score of 27.35 ± 2.68 (based on nine statements). The majority of participants agreed on the need of depoliticizing polio immunization issues (87.1 %), while reservations were noted about their willingness to participate in future polio immunization programs (44.6 %). Security (75.8 %) and vaccine management issues (64 %) were reported by the participants as the major barriers towards polio immunization in Pakistan. The findings showed poor knowledge of Muslim scholars towards polio; however, their attitudes were positive towards polio immunization. More studies are required to assess the knowledge and attitudes of Muslim scholars at the national level to validate the findings of this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. umair104@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad Umair
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Akram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Abasyn University, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jinnah University for Women, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ayub
authors.affiliation: District Headquarter Hospital, District Loralai, Balochistan, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Talieha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aqeel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Noman-Ul
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Haq
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fahad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Ubaid
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007514:Islam / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attitudes; Barriers; Immunization; Knowledge; Muslim scholars; Pakistan; Polio