Listening to the rumours: What the northern Nigeria polio vaccine boycott can tell us ten years on

Abstract

In 2003 five northern Nigerian states boycotted the oral polio vaccine due to fears that it was unsafe. Though the international responses have been scrutinised in the literature, this paper argues that lessons still need to be learnt from the boycott: that the origins and continuation of the boycott were due to specific local factors. We focus mainly on Kano state, which initiated the boycotts and continued to reject immunisations for the longest period, to provide a focused analysis of the internal dynamics and complex multifaceted causes of the boycott. We argue that the delay in resolving the year-long boycott was largely due to the spread of rumours at local levels, which were intensified by the outspoken involvement of high-profile individuals whose views were misunderstood or underestimated. We use sociological concepts to analyse why these men gained influence amongst northern Nigerian communities. This study has implications on contemporary policy: refusals still challenge the Global Polio Eradication Initiative; and polio remains endemic to Nigeria (Nigeria accounted for over half of global cases in 2012). This paper sheds light on how this problem may be tackled with the ultimate aim of vaccinating more children and eradicating polio.

Endgame for polio eradication? Options for overcoming social and political factors in the progress to eradicating polio

“…With the intensification of the GPEI launch of their 'endgame' strategy, and applying the PHEIC edict, 'attention needs to be paid now to strengthen engagement with local communities‧ (Ghinai, Willott, Dadari, & Larson, 2013). Ghinai et al (2013) argues that, if attention is not paid to the local communities and deterrents, another crisis such as the boycott in Nigeria in 2003 may occur, undermining the progress of the GPEI. Therefore, the involvement of local policy actors in a consensus frame must be established and carefully maintained in order for the policy window to remain open.…”

Polio eradication efforts in regions of geopolitical strife: the Boko Haram threat to efforts in sub-Saharan Africa

“…Targeted killing of healthcare workers, destruction of healthcare facilities, and displacement of huge populations have been reported 10 . In addition, Northern Nigeria has historically been an area where polio virus vaccination efforts have met with resistance as individuals refuse immunization refusal [11][12][13][14] . Erroneous beliefs by some populations in Nigeria and Cameroon link polio vaccination to sterility in women 15 .…”

Variable Implementation of Sexuality Education in Three Nigerian States

“…Some ulama and their followers believe that HIV/AIDS intervention programs are actually efforts by the United States and its allies to control the size of the Muslim population and to replace their culture with that of the US and the West in general, just as they believed was the case with earlier family planning programs (Ghinai et al. ; Renne ; Interview #s 48, 49). As one interviewee described:

Reproductive health issue is a difficult area [subject] because it is seen as an attempt to reduce the number [population] of Muslims.

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“…Because much of the impetus for FLHE came from the need to address HIV, the connection of HIV interventions to a longer history of negative responses to health and sexualityrelated government programs in Kano complicated FLHE implementation (Renne 1996(Renne , 2006Ghinai et al 2013). Some ulama and their followers believe that HIV/AIDS intervention programs are actually efforts by the United States and its allies to control the size of the Muslim population and to replace their culture with that of the US and the West in general, just as they believed was the case with earlier family planning programs (Ghinai et al 2013;Renne 1996; Interview #s 48, 49). As one interviewee described:…”