Muslim Scholars’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceived Barriers Towards Polio Immunization in Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan is one of the two countries where polio remains endemic. Among multiple reasons of polio prevalence, false religious beliefs are accounted as major barriers towards polio immunization in Pakistan. Within this context, religious scholars are now engaged in polio immunization campaigns to dismantle the myths and battle the resurgence of polio in Pakistan. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and perceived barriers of Muslim scholars towards polio immunization in Pakistan. A descriptive, cross-sectional survey of Muslim scholars was conducted in Quetta and Peshawar divisions of Pakistan. From October to December 2015, a convenience sample of 770 Muslim scholars was recruited from the local mosques and religious institutions to participate in this study. Knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers were assessed by using self-administered, anonymous and pretested questionnaire. Descriptive and regression analyses were used to express the results with p < 0.05 taken as significant. Three hundred and forty-eight (45.2 %) participants exhibited good knowledge about polio with a mean score of 7.16 ± 2.12 (based on 14 questions). Knowledge gaps were identified about the transmission (32.6 %) and consequences of poliovirus (39.9 %). Overall, 527 (68.4 %) participants showed positive attitudes towards polio immunization with a mean attitude score of 27.35 ± 2.68 (based on nine statements). The majority of participants agreed on the need of depoliticizing polio immunization issues (87.1 %), while reservations were noted about their willingness to participate in future polio immunization programs (44.6 %). Security (75.8 %) and vaccine management issues (64 %) were reported by the participants as the major barriers towards polio immunization in Pakistan. The findings showed poor knowledge of Muslim scholars towards polio; however, their attitudes were positive towards polio immunization. More studies are required to assess the knowledge and attitudes of Muslim scholars at the national level to validate the findings of this study.

The Impact of Religious and Cultural Beliefs Towards Immunization in Pakistan

“…Another popular belief propagated by extremists is that vaccination is a way to obviate Allah's will. 12…”

“…Further research is needed at the national level for more valid results. 12 However, in 2013, Maulana Samiul Haq, head of the political party "Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam" declared a fatwa that "there is nothing forbidden" in the polio vaccine, at his Darul Uloom Haqqania religious seminary located in the city of KPK, Akora Khattak. He further stated that it is the duty of the religious scholars who are present in Ulema councils to eliminate misinterpretations about the usage of vaccines in order to safeguard the children from the incapacitating illness.…”

Race, class, and agency: A return to Marxist feminism

“…Some 58 cases were registered in 2012 and the World Health Organization warned of travel/visa restrictions and sanctions to be imposed, if polio continued to spread (Government of Pakistan, National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Education, 2016–2017). The majority of cases are found in the tribal areas, which are less populated but where militants have actively resisted the vaccination program, terming it an un‐Islamic practice and believing it to be a conspiracy against Muslims (Khan et al, ).…”

Awareness of General Public Towards Polio Immunization in Rural Punjab Pakistan

“…In Pakistan misconceptions circulating in society created by religious leaders are the major hurdles to announce country as polio free. False religious beliefs and fatwas from imam of local mosque of the areas have made people to believe that polio vaccine is haram (forbidden in Islam) and parents misguidedly refused to vaccinate their children (10). Rumors that vaccines cause infertility in children aggravated immunization refusal, thus vaccine coverage was decreased (11).…”