Ethno-Graphical Factors Behind Polio Vaccine Hesitancy in Pakistan: An Analytical Perspective

Abstract

United in its stand, global community is still at war against paralytic poliomyelitis. Even though the concomitant efforts have reduced to global percentage of polio virus by 99%, countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan are still facing it as major public health concern. The recent surge in the number of cases in the region is alarming. In Pakistan, it is particularly linked to refusal of vaccine by the parents belonging to various ethnicities in high risk areas. Keeping in view, it was proposed to critically investigate the ethnic and cultural differences shaping reluctance towards vaccination and hence propose a way forward. Therefore, a cross sectional analytical study was conducted by interviewing health care workers at vaccination centers in high risk regions across Pakistan. The results present striking similarities in hesitancy towards vaccines across various ethnic groups. Among the refusal reasons presented, misconception regarding nature of the vaccine turned out to be the dominant factor. While no significant correlation could be established between vaccine refusal and ethnicity, yet Pashtuns appeared most reluctant towards vaccine followed by Baloch and Sindhi. This study highlighted the importance of awareness campaigns particularly to address the misconceptions about vaccine, among under privileged communities who despite technological boom have limited access to valid information.