POLIO VACCINE;

Abstract

Objectives: To assess knowledge and attitude of young doctors serving in Tertiarycare Hospitals regarding the IPV intervention and polio eradication campaign. Study Design:A cross sectional descriptive study. Setting: Five Tertiary Care Hospitals in Rawalpindi andIslamabad. Period: Oct 2015-Nov 2015. Methods: Proportionate random sampling techniquewas used to select a sample of 100 doctors working in pediatrics wards and out patientsdepartments (OPD). After taking informed consent the data was collected using a standardizedQuestionnaire to measure level of awareness among this cohort of Health care providers. Datawere entered and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Baseline distinctiveness (demographic)was summarized by descriptive statistics. The statistical inference was drawn using Chi squaretest, p value of ≤ 0.05 was considered as significant. Results The study sample comprised of47 males and 53 females. Mean age of participants was 29.8 ± 5.7. There were 15% HouseOfficers, 45% Post Graduate Trainees, 30% Medical Officers and 10% consultants in thesample. Majority of doctors (65%) expressed disinterest and doubt about polio immunizationwhile 40% suggested focus on sanitation and health promotion before immunization. Amongthe participants only 29% had attended polio surveillance training workshop in last 2 years andparticipated in polio National Immunization days. There was no significant association betweenknowledge about IPV and years of experience(x2 =2.68, p= 0.433). Conclusion: This studysuggests that there was inadequate knowledge of doctors in tertiary care hospitals regardingIPV and polio eradication efforts in Pakistan.