Community Engagement, Routine Immunization, and the Polio Legacy in Northern Nigeria

Anne Mcarthur-Lloyd,Fatima Adamu,Sally E Findley,Andrew Mckenzie,Cathy Green

doi:10.1080/23762004.2016.1205887

Anne Mcarthur-Lloyd, Fatima Adamu + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/23762004.2016.1205887

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Abstract

Northern Nigeria has a history of low use of health services, resistance to immunization programs, and high maternal and child mortality rates. Cultural, physical, and financial barriers prevent many families from accessing health care. The Partnership for Reviving Routine Immunization in Northern Nigeria; Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Initiative (PRRINN-MNCH) was a project funded by the UK Department of International Development and the Norwegian government that used an integrated approach to strengthen health services and increase community demand for and access to quality health care. The project’s community engagement approach aimed to empower communities, work with volunteers, and develop solutions to overcome barriers to health. Simultaneously, PRRINN-MNCH was building primary health care systems, including immunization, and strengthening governance to increase the availability and quality of services. Baseline and endline population-based random household surveys conducted in 2009 and 2013 sh...

Highlights

Northern Nigeria has a history of low use of health services, resistance to immunization programs, and high maternal and child mortality rates
Many of the PRRINN-MNCH lessons learned about community engagement are relevant to the Polio Eradication Initiative when Nigeria reaches polio-free status and community mobilizers are mainstreamed into routine health services
According to the Partnership for Reviving Routine Immunization in Northern Nigeria; Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Initiative (PRRINN-MNCH, 2013b), communities are underserved by health services and have low immunization coverage, high maternal mortality, and high infant and under-5 mortality rates

Summary

Introduction

Northern Nigeria has a history of low use of health services, resistance to immunization programs, and high maternal and child mortality rates. In response to the boycott, the Polio Eradication Initiative established a network of thousands of community mobilizers who were engaged to increase awareness, understanding, and acceptance of the polio vaccine The project worked closely with national, state, and local government area levels to build capacity and sustainability of activities

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