Introduction: Niger is a landlocked country located in the heart of West Africa. In recent years, it has faced multifaceted challenges affecting several basic social sectors. In health, the situation is marked by the resurgence of epidemics of poliomyelitis, meningitis, yellow fever, measles, diphtheria, etc. Regarding poliomyelitis, despite the country being certified as free of wild poliovirus in 2016, since 2018, several health districts in its eight (8) regions have recorded polio cases. In response, the State of Niger, with support from its technical and financial partners, is implementing a two-round vaccination response.

Methodology: In preparation for the September 2024 round, with UNICEF support, SBC Immunization consultants assisted the health teams of Maradi Ville, Madarounfa, Mayahi, Dosso, Kollo, and Tillabéri in preventive management of refusal cases recorded during the 1st round of the polio vaccine response.

Key Results: In total, 61 refusal cases were managed preventively prior to the September round using KoboCollect. Parents or guardians met during this process were predominantly women (62.30%), averaging 35.92 years of age. Regarding education, 36.07% had an unspecified level of Quranic instruction, and 36.07% had no education at all. The main occupation was housewife (57.63%), followed by shopkeepers/resellers (18.64%). Among these parents, 4 out of 61 (6.78%) were repeat refusers. Reasons for refusal were dominated by a lack of confidence in the vaccine (31.15%), fueled by perceptions that the vaccine is harmful (19.67%), causes sterility (9.84%), or causes rude behavior (1.64%). Almost all management approaches involved community platforms, including traditional leaders, religious leaders, women’s and youth associations, NGOs, and technical services. Indeed, 90.16% and 53.38% of preventive management activities were conducted with the involvement of monitoring committees and the social mobilization sub-committee, respectively. These preventive management activities carried out between the first two rounds had a strong impact: 93.44% of parents or guardians agreed to vaccinate their children, covering 114 out of 121 children (94.21%) identified in reluctant households.

Authorship

• Conception: Raissa Edwige Vanian, Abba Dan Dibi Haroune, Pie Roger Bofunga Lohandjola, Fatouma Goudal, Abdou Ali
• Data Collection: Djamila Abdoulkader, Adamou Moussa Hadiza, Maman Sani Moussa Hadjara, Ramatou Issa Abdoulaye, Hassane Kaou Mamadou
• Data Analysis: Abba Dan Dibi Haroune
• Review: Fatouma Goudal, Abdou Ali, Fati Hamza, Oumarou Harouna, Pie Roger Bofunga Lohandjola