A cross-sectional assessment of refusal factors towards polio vaccination

Poliomyelitis is a contagious disease that still remains in Pakistan, despite efforts to ensure full vaccination coverage, but, in counterpart, refusal is prevailing. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess refusal factors to polio vaccination. A cross-sectional approach was followed for the present study which was conducted in the North Waziristan Tribal District (polio endemic area) between January 2023 to July 2023. Data were collected on a self-developed questionnaire. The study participants were from the general public and were recruited through simple random sampling. The data were analyzed using Statistical package for social sciences SPSS. A total of 387 respondents completed the survey, amongst which most of the respondents were male (90.7%), living in a joint family (87.1%), and had primary education (48.3%). Most of the respondents showed poor knowledge regarding polio disease (58.7%). Religious extremism, poor knowledge regarding the disease and joint family culture were the significant predictors of the refusal of polio vaccination. This refusal may cause the re-emergence of polio outbreaks.