"National Pulse Polio Surveillance Project (2002)"

Impact Assessment of IEC materials by NPSP in Moradabad and Rampur:

The first evaluative study, relating to health, was undertaken in the two districts of Moradabad and Rampur (both in the State of Uttar Pradesh) and was supported by the World Health Organization (through Govt. of U.P. and National Polio Surveillance Programme). The task of the Research Team was to evaluate the impact of IEC materials in these areas and suggest suitable alterations in methodology so as to create the desirable impact. The Team interviewed 300 households in urban and rural areas of both these districts among extreme conditions and at times even strong opposition, besides interviewing a wide variety of officials associated with its implementation. Most of the opposition was noted among Qureshi community (Muslims) and Saini caste (Hindus) who had fallen prey to the rumour by some irresponsible elements that the polio immunization drops would render the child infertile when they grow up. The Team itself tried to allay these misconceptions as far as possible and concluded that there were three main reasons for the limited impact of IEC materials. First, the pictures as represented on the posters, to most of the respondents, portrayed the exact opposite of what they were supposed to do, Torans (door hangings) had failed to deliver impact, FAQ leaflets had been designed for the Medical Doctors who did not need them and Deoband Appeal had a partial effect. Second, no new strategy was designed for 'X' households (those who had refused to get their children orally vaccinated) who had in the earlier refused permission. Third, there was a need to alter the strategy to target 'X' households by specifically addressing the misleading rumours.