Presentation

Shifting Norms to Conquer Polio: Male Engagement Strategies for Vaccine Defaulters in India and Nigeria

Over the last 19 years, CORE Group Polio Project (CGPP) has employed a variety of SBCC strategies to promote polio vaccination and address vaccine non-compliance. While gender differences have not been found in vaccination coverage, gender norms related to roles, behavioral expectations, and power dynamics strongly impact decision making. Knowledge about polio vaccine and its importance has increased steadily among mothers who are part of CGPP. However, vaccine-seeking behaviors have not always followed suit.

CGPP identified that while women were primary caregivers of children, they often had limited power to act on health information. By contrast, men often made decisions about family health, but did not have strong knowledge about vaccination. Non-supportive fathers, therefore, act as barriers to
immunization by not granting permission or by withholding financial support.

To address this disparity, CGPP developed country-specific SBCC strategies to engage men in vaccination decision making and encourage couple communication. CGPP country teams identified “gathering places” and trusted influencers for men, and used this information to craft interventions.