What do Nigerians believe about polio vaccines?
One of the most important aspects of polio in Nigeria is the mistrust and refusal of the oral polio vaccine. In 2003, religious leaders in Nigeria raised concerns about suspected polio vaccine contamination and effectively stopped vaccination programs for a year (Zaracostas, 2006). Islamic organizations were worried specifically about polio vaccines containing some form of anti-fertility drug, which was rumoured to be used for population control. Several rounds of testing found that the vaccines were not contaminated, but rumours and beliefs about this are still present in the general population. (Renne, 2006.)
These beliefs were obviously significant enough to halt vaccine programs. Knowing why some Nigerians do not trust the polio vaccine will be absolutely necessary for planning any type of intervention. We also have to look into what Nigerians believe about the polio vaccine in general.
Finding out about what Nigerians think about the oral polio vaccine can likely be done in a similar way as finding out what they believe about polio. Instead of collecting Explanatory Models, questionnaires can be constructed to ask specifically about the vaccine. Snowball sampling in each ethnic group would gather information and opinions efficiently. It would also be worthwhile to use semi-structured and open-ended interviews to gather more information; perhaps community and religious leaders could be interviewed in this way. Interviewing some parents who have declined the vaccine for their children would also be useful. Beliefs about the polio vaccine could also be asked about in questionnaires about Explanatory Models in order to save time.
The issue of informed consent is very significant in the debate about the polio vaccine. Many Nigerians blamed the deaths of 11 children due to a menengitis drug trial on lack of informed consent. There are some people, therefore, that are very concerned about being completely informed about the polio vaccine, and they will not accept it without feeling that they know everything. This is understandable. Unfortunately, problems arise with informed consent: in order to eradicate polio, the majority of people need to be vaccinated, and with informed consent comes the ability to refuse vaccinations. Informed consent often requires certain levels of education and literacy. Mistrust in the vaccination program will inevitably lead to more refusals. (Olusanya, 2004.) The issue then becomes how to increase the population's trust in the polio vaccine. To understand this issue, we have to look at the country's recorded experiences with vaccinations, pharmaceutical companies and the government, as well as Western-type medicine in general. (Schimmer and Iheweazu, 2006.)
These beliefs were obviously significant enough to halt vaccine programs. Knowing why some Nigerians do not trust the polio vaccine will be absolutely necessary for planning any type of intervention. We also have to look into what Nigerians believe about the polio vaccine in general.
Finding out about what Nigerians think about the oral polio vaccine can likely be done in a similar way as finding out what they believe about polio. Instead of collecting Explanatory Models, questionnaires can be constructed to ask specifically about the vaccine. Snowball sampling in each ethnic group would gather information and opinions efficiently. It would also be worthwhile to use semi-structured and open-ended interviews to gather more information; perhaps community and religious leaders could be interviewed in this way. Interviewing some parents who have declined the vaccine for their children would also be useful. Beliefs about the polio vaccine could also be asked about in questionnaires about Explanatory Models in order to save time.
The issue of informed consent is very significant in the debate about the polio vaccine. Many Nigerians blamed the deaths of 11 children due to a menengitis drug trial on lack of informed consent. There are some people, therefore, that are very concerned about being completely informed about the polio vaccine, and they will not accept it without feeling that they know everything. This is understandable. Unfortunately, problems arise with informed consent: in order to eradicate polio, the majority of people need to be vaccinated, and with informed consent comes the ability to refuse vaccinations. Informed consent often requires certain levels of education and literacy. Mistrust in the vaccination program will inevitably lead to more refusals. (Olusanya, 2004.) The issue then becomes how to increase the population's trust in the polio vaccine. To understand this issue, we have to look at the country's recorded experiences with vaccinations, pharmaceutical companies and the government, as well as Western-type medicine in general. (Schimmer and Iheweazu, 2006.)