COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS POLIO IMMUNIZATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

ckground: Poliomyelitis remains a public health concern where population immunity is incomplete and circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) persists. Although Nigeria interrupted wild poliovirus transmission in 2020, cVDPV cases continue to pose challenges, particularly in parts of Northern Nigeria. Methods: This multicentre descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated community knowledge and attitudes towards polio immunization across 37 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). A multistage sampling strategy was utilized to select 1,850 adult respondents (50 per LGA) spanning rural, semi-urban, and urban settlements. Results: Overall, 40.4% (n = 747) of respondents demonstrated good knowledge, while 58.4% (n = 1,080) displayed positive attitudes towards polio immunization. A striking disparity was observed across residence classifications: respondents in urban/semi-urban LGAs exhibited significantly higher levels of good knowledge (51.7%, 569/1,100) compared to those in rural LGAs (23.7%, 178/750; χ 2 = 144.00, df = 1, p < 0.001). Main sources of information were health workers (33.0%) and radio (21.1%). Conclusion: Knowledge deficits persist in rural Northern Nigerian communities despite favorable attitudes. Interventions must prioritize localized risk communication, traditional and religious leadership involvement, and primary healthcare integration.