Abstract
Ensuring the Right to Health through polio eradication: A mixed methods study of best practices in polio eradication efforts in six countries in Africa and India
Katherine Vergara, PhD, MPH1, Lee Losey, B.A., M.A., M.Phil, MPH2, Bal Ram Bhui, MPH, MA, MBA3, Filimona Bisrat4, Anthony Kisanga5, Ana Pinto6, Roma Solomon, MBBS7, Samuel Usman, M.B;B.S; PDM; Mphil;MHM8, Opeyemi Adeosun, DVM;MPH9, Abubakar Ahmad10, Uladi Amos11, Muluken Alemu Asres12, Jitendra Awale, B.Sc, Master of Social Work (MSW)7, Legesse Bezabih13, Manojkumar Choudhary, MA , Master of Population Studies (MPS)7, Rina Dey, BFA, MA in Journalism and Mass Communication7, Tenager Jemberi14, Mercy Lutukai, Regional Advisor- Monitoring& Evaluation, CGPP HOA15, Somane Mohammed3, Wirsiy Peter Njofon, Dr16, Joy Bassey Popoola17, Salomon Rakotovazaha18, Bezunesh Rogie19, Pedro Sapalalo, MPH20, Kibrom Tesfaye, MPH, BSc.21, Maureen Ugochuku22 and Mohammd Zango, Ordinary National Diploma8
(1)University of Illinois - Chicago, Chicago, IL, (2)CORE Group Polio Project and CRS, Chicago, IL, (3)CORE Group Polio Project, Nairobi, Kenya, (4)CORE Group Polio Project (CGPP), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, (5)CORE Group Polio Project (CGPP) South Sudan, Juba, South Sudan, (6)CORE Angola, Luanda, Angola, (7)CORE Group Polio Project India, Gurgaon 122002, India, (8)CORE GROUP PARTNERS PROJECT-CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES, ABUJA, FCT, Nigeria, (9)CORE GROUP PARTNERS PROJECT, ABUJA, FCT, Nigeria, (10)CGPP Katsina State, Nigeria, Katsina, Katsina state, Nigeria, (11)CGPP Kaduna State, Nigeria, Kaduna, Kaduna state, Nigeria, (12)CCRDA/CORE Group, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, (13)CORE Group Polio Project, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, (14)CORE Group Polio Project Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, (15)CORE Group Polio Project (CGPP), Nairobi, Kenya, (16)Africare, Rua Joaquim Cordeiro de Mata, nº 53 Luanda Angola, Luanda, Angola, (17)CORE Group Partners Project, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria, (18)International Medical Corps Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria, (19)CORE Group Polio Project, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, (20)Tchikos, Angolan Research agency, Luanda, Angola, (21)CCDRA/CORE Group, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, (22)CRS Nigeria, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
APHA 2016 Annual Meeting & Expo (Oct. 29 - Nov. 2, 2016)
Background: Since the introduction of the polio vaccine over 60 years ago and an historic international public health effort, polio has decreased by 99.9% globally. While an astounding public health accomplishment, there remain significant challenges to global eradication. CORE Group Polio Project (CGPP) is present in 6 countries in Africa (Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan) and India to help achieve global polio eradication.
Objective: Best practices need to be shared across national borders to optimize effectiveness and efficiency in the last stages of global polio eradication.
Methods: In addition to a quantitative cluster survey, a total of 65 semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted, ranging from individual to small focus group format with international, national, local, and community stakeholders. Themes emerged through methodology modeled on Grounded Theory and were analyzed with the Dedoose program to find similarities in knowledge, beliefs and attitudes.
Findings: The most frequently reported best practices expressed by stakeholders across country borders involved bolstering routine immunization activities and building public health capacity. There still exists significant barriers to eradication including infrastructure, mistrust of the healthcare system or polio vaccine, and logistical challenges. Knowledge is improving specifically with regard to acute flaccid paralysis and when/how often a child should receive oral polio vaccine. While improvements are notable, immunization coverage in many large populations in CGPP countries fall below what is needed to protect communities from preventable disease.
Conclusions: These stakeholder-identified barriers and best practices in polio eradication are critical in developing end-game policy changes in resource-limited settings.
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs Provision of health care to the public