Abstract:

Background: Lot Quality Assurance Survey Sampling (LQAS) is a survey use for estimation of Supplemental Immunization Activity (SIA) coverage (OPV percentage coverage). The survey is mostly conducted in high risk LGAs immediately after SIAs. This paper explored reasons why children were missed during LQAS after Polio Campaigns in Birnin Kudu LGA, Jigawa State of Nigeria in 2014. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between January – April, 2015. Twenty-eight (28) parents whose children were found to be missed during LQAS in Birnin Kudu LGA after 2014 Polio campaign were purposively sampled to participate in the survey but only 24 parents were reached. Survey data were collected by a questionnaire which was applied face to face to parents of 24 children. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics, mean, median, proportions. Findings: the result of the study revealed that children were missed due to the following reasons: 75% due to “child was not at home”, “child was too young for immunization” and “others” constitutes 8% each. “Child was sick” and “too many round” constitute (4%) each. Lowest were “religious belief”, “child was scarred”, “unhappy with the attitude of the vaccination team”, “team didn’t visit the house”, “Political differences”, “no pluses during the visit” and “unmet needs” having 0% each. The study concluded that the major reason why children were to be missed during 2014 LQAS in Birnin-Kudu LGA was as a result of “child not at home” which constitute 75%. Recommendation: Health Education: the government should put more effort in educating the populace about Polio vaccination; emphasize its importance, why it is frequently repeated, how polio hinders lifelong opportunities for their children. Immunization days should be uniform all over the nation so as to be able to capture those who travelled to another part of the country.

Keywords: Poliomyelitis, missed child, reasons for missed children, Lot Quality Assurance Sampling Survey.

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