DID THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR POLIOMYELITIS VACCINATION ACHIEVE ITS OBJECTIVES? A PILOT SURVEY IN AL-KHOBAR AREA

OBJECTIVES: To verify whether the first national campaign for poliomyelitis vaccination achieved its objectives. SETTING: Al-Khobar area in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS & METHODS: Randomized samples have been obtained using the Bowleg's proportional allocation scheme. At the first stage, housing blocks of 8-10 houses were selected using random sampling procedure. At a second stage, 2 houses from each block were selected in a 1 or 4 order. Both Saudi and non-Saudi nationals living in these households were screened using pretested questionnaire administered at a face-to-face by trained interviewers. The questionnaire covered areas that included number of children vaccinated, reasons for non vaccination, whether or not the vaccinated child has received certificate of vaccination as well as placement of stickers on the door of the vaccinated households. RESULT: A total of 107 households were surveyed in Al-Khobar. The total populations surveyed was 527 people including 213 adults and 314 children (152 of the children were aged 5 years or less). In all the households surveyed, all eligible children age 5 years or less were vaccinated. All of the vaccinated children obtained a vaccination certificate. CONCLUSION: The overall percentage coverage in Al-Khobar was 100%. This denotes the success of the campaign. A nationwide survey is suggested to corroborate these findings.