RAPID ASSESSMENT OF POLIO VIRUS ANTIBODIES PREVALENCE AMONGST CHILDREN IN KANO STATE, NORTH WEST NIGERIA

Abstract

The completion of poliomyelitis eradication is a global health
emergency which must be pursued with vigour. Kano state has
remained one of the epicenters for polio virus outbreaks in
northern Nigeria. There is paucity of information as it relates to
polio antibody prevalence amongst children in the state. Periodic
serologic assessment is needed to determine the quality and
effectiveness of routine vaccination campaigns carried in the state
to rapidly build immunity against poliovirus. Children were
randomly selected throughout the state for the assessment
between Sept. 2013 and Jan. 2014. Blood samples were
collected from eighty children and tested for the presence of
antibodies to the three poliovirus serotypes. Indirect ELISA was
used to rapidly screen for the antibodies. Epi Info 3.5.4 version
was used for the data analysis. Out of the samples collected, 61
(76.3%) had antibodies to all the serotypes. While 73 (91.3%), 66
(82.5%) and 72 (90%) had antibodies to virus serotypes 1, 2 and
3 respectively. Age of the children, number of doses the children
had taken and educational level of the children’s fathers were
statistically significant risk factors on the prevalence of poliovirus
antibodies. Access to immunization services must be improved in
urban and rural areas so as to effectively reach a large number of
children in those places. Effective and high quality campaigns are
needed so that every eligible child is reached. Greater focus on
good mobilization is also needed to reach children in households
in rural areas as well as in households with children whose
fathers’ educational level was low.