“We have come so far together in the fight to end polio. We have the means to finish the job. We can make history. Or we can fail to seize the moment. Lest history judge us harshly, let a polio-free world be our legacy to the next generation of children.” – Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director
Since 2013, HORP has worked together with UNICEF on a collaborative polling effort to support high-quality, strategic knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) polls in seven polio-priority countries, including multiple waves in endemic countries – Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.
Map image source: http://www.amcharts.com/visited_countries/#
The polls provide a localized and evolving picture of caregivers’ perspectives on the vaccine and vaccination efforts by assessing caregivers’ awareness, knowledge, and experience with:
- The disease and vaccine, including oral polio vaccine (OPV) and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV)
- The vaccination process (e.g., interpersonal relationship with vaccinators)
- Organizations responsible for vaccination efforts
- Communication and media about polio and vaccination
Data emerging from this collaboration have been critical to drive on-the-ground Polio Programme and communication efforts. In addition, cross-country results have laid the foundation for the global communication strategy for polio eradication efforts.
Publications to date:
- SteelFisher GK, Blendon RJ, Haydarov R et al. “Threats to oral polio vaccine acceptance in Somalia: Polling in an outbreak.” Vaccine. 2018;36(31):4716-4724.
- SteelFisher GK, Blendon RJ, Guirguis S et al. “Understanding threats to polio vaccine commitment: a polling study of caregivers in high-priority areas of Afghanistan.” Lancet Infect Dis. 2017;17(11):1172-1179.
- SteelFisher GK, Blendon RJ, Guirguis S et al. “Threats to polio eradication in high-conflict areas in Pakistan and Nigeria: a polling study of caregivers of children younger than 5 years.” Lancet Infect Dis. 2015; 15:1183-92.
Additional media coverage:
- The Lancet Infectious Diseases. “Polio in Afghanistan: The Lancet Infectious Diseases” [podcast]. Lancet Infect Dis.
- Aizenmen, N. “Polio’s Surge in Pakistan: Are Parents Part of The Problem?” [online]. NPR.org. 2014
Contact Information:
Gillian SteelFisher, PhD, MSc, Senior Research Scientist and Director of Global Polling, HORP
