ABSTRACT
Communication is a
critical component in assuring that children are fully immunized and that
simultaneous immunity is attained and maintained across large geographic areas
for disease eradication and control initiatives. If service delivery is of good
quality and outreach to the population is active, effective communication—through
advocacy, social mobilization, and program communication (including behavior
change activities and interpersonal communication)—will assist in raising
awareness, creating and sustaining demand, preventing or dispelling
misinformation and doubts, encouraging acceptance of and participation in
vaccination services, more rapid reporting of disease cases and outbreaks, and
mobilizing financial resources to support immunization efforts. There is
evidence of 12% to 20% or more increases in the absolute level of immunization
coverage and 33% to 100% increases in relative coverage compared to baselines
when communication is included as a key component of immunization
strengthening. This research utilizes evidence from Nigeria to examine how the
communication system can help in Polio Eradication and evaluation data to focus
and improve the quality and impact of communication activities.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
Introduction
Communication, we know, does
not exist in a vacuum. It is part of a total life environment, it is
conditioned by a country's economy, technological infrastructure, politics,
socio-cultural traditions and goals, and its basic vision of society, or
ideology. All this affects the media in a direct way. They, in turn, can have
some effect on these conditions, at least by creating awareness. In addition,
conditions are changing, often fast, and, alas, not always for the better. This
article attempts to sketch a very broad overview of the problems and prospects
of African communication. The observations made in it are based on practical
experience, and, in part, on reports about communication in Africa. But they
are in no way complete. Rather, they want to identify certain trends which seem
to be emerging. Conclusions which can be drawn from them are, therefore,
necessarily provisional and tentative.
1.1
Background of the Study
Poliomyelitis, often called
polio or infantile paralysis, is an infectious disease caused by the
poliovirus. In about 0.5% of cases there is muscle weakness resulting in an
inability to move.[1] This can occur over a few hours to few days.[1][2] The
weakness most often involves the legs but may less commonly involve the muscles
of the head, neck and diaphragm. Many but not all people fully recover. In
those with muscle weakness about 2% to 5% of children and
15%
to 30% of adults die.[Atkinson W, Hamborsky J, 2009] Another 25% of people have
minor symptoms such as fever and a sore throat and up to 5% have headache, neck
stiffness and pains in the arms and legs.[ Wolfe S, eds. (2009)]These people
are usually back to normal within one or two weeks. In up to 70% of infections
there are no symptoms.[1] Years after recovery post-polio syndrome may occur,
with a slow development of muscle weakness similar to that which the person had
during the initial infection.[NIH. April 16, 2014] Poliovirus is usually spread
from person to person through infected fecal matter entering the
mouth.[Atkinson W, Hamborsky J] It may also be spread by food or water
containing human feces and less commonly from infected saliva.[1][2] Those who
are infected may spread the disease for up to six weeks even if no symptoms are
present. The disease may be diagnosed by finding the virus in the feces or
detecting antibodies against it in the blood. The disease only occurs naturally
in humans.[Atkinson W, Hamborsky J, 2009]
The disease is preventable
with the polio vaccine; however, a number of doses are required for it to be
effective.[who.int. October 2014] The United States Center for Disease Control
recommends polio vaccination boosters for travelers and those who live in
countries where the disease is occurring.[4] Once infected there is no specific
treatment.[2] In 2015 polio affected less than 100 people down from 350,000
cases in 1988.[World Health Organisation. 2016-01-06][WHO.INT. October 2014] In
2014 the disease was only spreading between people in Afghanistan, Nigeria, and
Pakistan.[Poliomyelitis Fact sheet] In 2015
Nigeria had stopped the
spread of wild poliovirus.[www.who.int. Retrieved 2015-09-28]
Poliomyelitis has existed
for thousands of years, with depictions of the disease in ancient art.[ Wolfe
S, eds. (2009)] The disease was first recognized as a distinct condition by
Michael Underwood in 1789[1] and the virus that causes it was first identified
in 1908 by Karl Landsteiner. [Daniel, Thomas M.; Robbins, Frederick C., eds.
(1999)] Major outbreaks started to occur in the late 19th century in Europe and
the United States. In the 20th century it became one of the most worrying
childhood diseases in these areas.[Wheeler, Derek S.; Wong, Hector R. (2009)]
The first polio vaccine was developed in the 1950s by Jonas Salk.[Aylward R
(2006)] It is hoped that vaccination efforts and early detection of cases will
result in global eradication of the disease by 2018.[WHO].
Polio can strike at any age, but it mainly affects
children under five years old. Polio is spread through person-to-person
contact. When a child is infected with wild poliovirus, the virus enters the
body through the mouth and multiplies in the intestine. It is then shed into
the environment through the faeces where it can spread rapidly through a
community, especially in situations of poor hygiene and sanitation. If a
sufficient number of children are fully immunized against polio, the virus is
unable to find susceptible children to infect, and dies out.
Young children who are not yet toilet-trained are a ready
source of transmission, regardless of their environment. Polio can be spread
when food or
drink is contaminated by faeces. There is also evidence
that flies can passively transfer poliovirus from faeces to food.
Most people infected with the poliovirus have no signs of
illness and are never aware they have been infected. These symptomless people
carry the virus in
their intestines and can “silently” s before the first
case of polio paralysis emerges.
For this reason, WHO considers a single confirmed case of
polio paralysis to be evidence of an epidemic –particularly in countries where
very few cases occur. Poliomyelitis is highly contagious via the fecal-oral
(intestinal source) and the oral-oral (oropharyngeal source) routes.[ Gourville
E, Dowdle W, Pallansch M (2005)] In endemic areas, wild polioviruses can infect
virtually the entire human population.[Parker SP, ed. (1998)] It is seasonal in
temperate climates, with peak transmission occurring in summer and
autumn.[Dowdle W, Pallansch M (2005)] These seasonal differences are far less
pronounced in tropical areas.[Parker SP, ed. (1998)] The time between first
exposure and first symptoms, known as the incubation period, is usually 6 to 20
days, with a maximum range of three to 35 days.[Racaniello V (2006)] Virus
particles are excreted in the feces for several weeks following initial
infection.[Racaniello V (2006)] The disease is transmitted primarily via the
fecal-oral route, by ingesting contaminated food or water. It is occasionally
transmitted via the oral-oral route, a mode especially visible in areas with
good sanitation and hygiene.[ Gourville E, Dowdle W, Pallansch M (2005)] Polio
is most infectious between
seven and 10 days before and after the appearance of
symptoms, but transmission is possible as long as the virus remains in the
saliva or feces.[Ohri, Linda K.; Jonathan G. Marquess (1999)]
Factors that increase the risk of polio infection or
affect the severity of the disease include immune deficiency,[ Price D, Butler
I, Vickers J (1977)] malnutrition,[ Chandra R (14 June 1975)] physical activity
immediately following the onset of paralysis,[Horstmann D (1950)] skeletal
muscle injury due to injection of vaccines or therapeutic agents,[Gromeier M,
Wimmer E (1998)] and pregnancy.[Evans C (1960)] Although the virus can cross
the maternal-fetal barrier during pregnancy, the fetus does not appear to be
affected by either maternal infection or polio vaccination.[Joint Committee on
Vaccination and Immunisation] Maternal antibodies also cross the placenta,
providing passive immunity that protects the infant from polio infection during
the first few months of life.[Groh A, Bischoff A, Prager J, Wutzler P (2002)]
1.2
Statement of Research
Polio
is a disease that hit the Afri children most especially, this disease has a
cure or its prevention, yet it is still
killing our young ones and children out of the community
ignorance to some certain information, as said by Okek wealth”, therefore, due
to lack of ad the target, it can results to lose of lives. The researcher has
discovered that due
to lack of communication channel and flow polio disease
has remain with us here in Nigeria and has continue to spread to every citizens
within the locality.
1.3
Objectives of the Research
Having in mind the problem
of this research work, the objectives is therefore, set forward. This research
work will be looking at polio eradication campaign through our communication
system which is the African means. With the following objectives or goals.
1. Enlighten
the importance of education campaign on polio disease within our community.
2. Access
the means through with polio can be eradicated from our community through one
of the African communication system.
3. Create
awareness of the disease polio in the peoples mind and its preventive measures.
1.4
Research questions
In caring out this
research work, some of the following questions were designed
to guide this work
for a better understanding and comprehension.
1.
Are
you aware of the disease called polio?
2. Do
you know there are preventives measures to the so called disease?
3. If
you are aware and know about the preventions, which means where you educated
about it?
4. Have
there been any campaign on polio disease in your community?
5. Are
there children in your community that are contaminated with the poliovirus worm
or disease?
1.5
Research hypothesis
The researcher formed two
research hypothesis which will be tested in the course off this study, for the
support of the research work or not, this test will be carried out using 0.5
significance difference using the chi-square method of test.
Hypothesis
one
Hnull Polio disease cannot
be eradicated through the use of our African communication system
Hypothesis
two
Halt African
communication system has no significance effect to the eradication campaign or
awareness of the polio disease within our community.
Hnull African
communication system has a significance effect to the eradication campaign or
awareness of the polio disease within our community.
1.6
Significance of the Study
This thesis is significant in various ways to various
sectors, as will be seen below; Studies in this subject have exhaustively pin
pointed the negative impact of neglecting the flow of communication in a system
on the society, which no doubt has so far affected the peace and stability of
the international community. it will present in a precise manner, the
importance of communication to the
eradication of polio disease and some other communicable
disease with prevention on how to deal about it. It is believed that the
findings of this research work should provide detailed information on how to
tackle with the issue of communication in our nation. It is also expected that the
study will be of benefit to all the citizens of this country, as it will create
awareness of the implication of lack of communication in our country Nigeria.
It is possible that by the outcome off this research that
polio will reduce in a great number from the communities.
The research will also be beneficial to the researcher.
This is because the study will expose the researcher to so many related areas
in the course of carrying out
his research. This will enhance the understanding on the
polio, communication skill.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The scope of this research work will only cover the
people within Gboko LGA. This focus will be on the communication system and its
effect in connection to the eradication of diseases in our community, diseases like
polio which is the primary focus of this study.
1.8
Limitations of the Study
The
research work may be faced with time & fund constraints being an academic
based research. The time allocated for this study is not enough as in
combining the work on this study with daily academics
routine. Also, the study will be limited to some areas due to the problems of
funds, shortage of texts, journals and information relevant to the study.
Finance: The money the
researcher has may not be adequate for the project and it will make her
unable to go far and wide, and to subscribe to get information that are needed
for the project.
Time: It is another problem
because a specific time was given to the researcher for the execution of
this project, the work may be rushed to meet up with time given and he may not
have enough time to relax and do the work perfectly.
Movement: During the
collection of data due to the bad roads in the area the researcher’s
movements to the remote
hindered.
Non-compliance:
Some of the people will not be polite enough to answer questions when
asked and many of them may not comply with the researcher leading to
difficulties in gathering of answers from the respondents.
Illiteracy: The quality of the
response may be adversely influenced by the level of education of the
respondents.
1.9
Definition of Terms
Communication: is
the process of passing onto another the knowledge or idea you have to
his understanding and comprehension.
Polio: Poliomyelitis,
often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an infectious disease
caused by the poliovirus. In about 0.5% of cases there is muscle weakness
resulting in an inability to move.
Eradication: is the process of
act of bringing to an end a situation or an
epidemic
Campaign: is
a public show or notification by creating awareness of an issues of
events.
Disease: is
an outbreak of illness that causes the body system to malfunction or work
effectively.