POLIO VACCINE;

INACTIVATED POLIO VACCINE INTERVENTION AND POLIO ERADICATION CAMPAIGN ; KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF YOUNG DOCTORS

Abstract

Objectives: To assess knowledge and attitude of young doctors serving in Tertiary
care Hospitals regarding the IPV intervention and polio eradication campaign. Study Design:
A cross sectional descriptive study. Setting: Five Tertiary Care Hospitals in Rawalpindi and
Islamabad. Period: Oct 2015-Nov 2015. Methods: Proportionate random sampling technique
was used to select a sample of 100 doctors working in pediatrics wards and out patients
departments (OPD). After taking informed consent the data was collected using a standardized
Questionnaire to measure level of awareness among this cohort of Health care providers. Data
were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Baseline distinctiveness (demographic)
was summarized by descriptive statistics. The statistical inference was drawn using Chi square
test, p value of ≤ 0.05 was considered as significant. Results The study sample comprised of
47 males and 53 females. Mean age of participants was 29.8 ± 5.7. There were 15% House
Officers, 45% Post Graduate Trainees, 30% Medical Officers and 10% consultants in the
sample. Majority of doctors (65%) expressed disinterest and doubt about polio immunization
while 40% suggested focus on sanitation and health promotion before immunization. Among
the participants only 29% had attended polio surveillance training workshop in last 2 years and
participated in polio National Immunization days. There was no significant association between
knowledge about IPV and years of experience(x2 =2.68, p= 0.433). Conclusion: This study
suggests that there was inadequate knowledge of doctors in tertiary care hospitals regarding
IPV and polio eradication efforts in Pakistan.