Travel Med Infect Dis. 2015 Jul 16. pii: S1477-8939(15)00105-2. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2015.06.004. [Epub ahead of print]

Polio in Pakistan: Social constraints and travel implications.

Mushtaq A1, Mehmood S2, Rehman MA3, Younas A3, Rehman MS4, Malik MF5, Hyder MZ6.

Author information

• 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan.
• 2Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan. Electronic address: sajid.mehmood@uog.edu.pk.
• 3Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
• 4Department of Chemical Engineering, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.
• 5Faculty of Sciences, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan.
• 6Department of Biosciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Abstract

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in Pakistan has faced failure despite being implemented successfully. Polio cases were successfully reduced by 99% until 2005. However, thereafter, new polio cases were registered, which continue to rise annually. This repeat polio outbreak has placed the country on watch by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to travelers, and Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. The present report reviews the published literature for determining the social constraints to the polio eradication initiative in Pakistan. Religion, politics, awareness, insecurity, inequity, governance, and social responsibility have been identified as key social factors in the failure of any vaccination campaign. Possible interventions have been proposed, which include effectively using modern mass media and educating vaccinators on the social and cultural background of the target community.