Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer

Articles

CJPLS: VOL. 12, NO. 1, JUNE 2024

The Outbreak of Diphtheria in Nigeria: the outcome of the nation’s low immunization coverage

Submitted
April 15, 2024
Published
2024-08-16

Abstract

The outbreak of diphtheria disease in Nigeria has claimed the lives of many Nigerians, and the country has the highest number of children who are not immunized. This study intends to investigate the outbreak of diphtheria disease in Kano State and the immunization practices of its citizens. A qualitative research method with the use of Focus group discussion was adopted in this study. Fifty-six homogeneous focus group discussions were conducted among four target populations: health workers, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and women with young children. Results revealed the outbreak of diphtheria, inadequacy of the health care system, non-utilization of modern health care services, poor immunization coverage and fear of the safety of immunization and vaccination by the inhabitants of the study communities. It was recommended that an adequate, well-equipped, and functional healthcare system with a highly motivated health workforce across the 774 local government areas in Nigeria be provided. Full-scale immunization and vaccination programs should be provided across villages and communities in the entire country, and citizens of Nigeria should be adequately sensitized to the signs and symptoms of immunization and vaccine-related diseases.

References

  1. Adebowale, N.T, (2023). 64% of children in Nigeria not immunized Premium Times Available:https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/551530-64-of-children-in-nigeria-not-immunised-report.htmlS.
  2. Agrawal, R., Murmu, S., Kanunoo, R. and Pati, S. (2023). Nigeria on alert: Diphtheria outbreaks require urgent action: - a critical look at the current situation and potential solutions PCM Pubmed Central 23(52), 101100 PMCID: PMC9958346 doi: 10.1016/j.nmni.2023.101100
  3. :https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9958346/
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). An update of diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria. Available from:https://ncdc.gov.ng/diseases/sitreps/?cat=18&name=An%20Update%20of%20Diphtheria%20Outbreak%20in%20Nigeria
  5. Development Research Project Center (2022, January 20.) Policy brief on routine immunization in Kano State. Development Research Project Center Magazine https://drpcngr.org/policy-brief-on-routine-immunization-in-kano-state
  6. DREF Application: (April, 2023). Nigeria-Diphtheria Outbreak – DREF Application (MDRNG037). Available from: https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/nigeria-diphtheria-outbreak-dref-application-mdrng037
  7. Harvey, J. (2019). Exploring factors influencing immunization in Nigeria: A mixed methods study. Public Health 20(7), 1-19,https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00392 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00392/full
  8. Harvey,J. (2019). Exploring factors influencing immunization in Nigeria: A mixed methods study. Public Health 20(7), 1-19,https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00392 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00392/full
  9. Ihejirika P.I. (2023, February 15). Diphtheria kills 61 in Kano. Leadership https://leadership.ng/just-in-diphtheria-kills-61-in-kano/
  10. Ileyemi, M. (2023, January 24). Nigeria records 123 infections and 38 deaths of Diphtheria. Premium Times https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/577477-diphtheria-nigeria-records-123-infections-38-deaths.html
  11. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (2023, June 14). Diphtheria Outbreak in Nigeria. Nigeria-Diphtheria-Outbreak-Dref-Application-MDRNG037https://reliefweb.int/report/Nigeria/nigeria-diphtheria-outbreak-dref-applicationmdrng037#::text=There%20has%20been%20an%20alarming,further%20increase%20of%20the%20disease.
  12. Kurayi, M. (2022). Zero- or missed-dose children in Nigeria: Contributing factors and interventions to overcome immunization service delivery challenges, Vaccine 40(37), 5433-5444 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.07.058Get rights and content.
  13. Njoku, C.A. (2015). Immunization and civil society in Nigeria: a challenge of scale. https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/immunisation-and-civil-society-in-nigeria-a?gclid=CjwKCAjw04yjBhApEiwAJcvNoe0LPvpLreNwmPl6WZOveOVBuHILhvnLH4-dUXmi1g4rP0ufBZ8V1RoCkK8QAvD_BwE
  14. Olayinka, A.O. and Newell, M.L. (2020). The role of place of residency in childhood immunization coverage in Nigeria: analysis of data from three DHS rounds. BMC Public Health20(123) https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-8170-6https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/how-do-vaccines-work?adgroupsurvey={adgroupsurvey}&gclid=CjwKCAjw04yjBhApEiwAJcvNoS1RVckl0CkUQ2DyTHr6RacyEHWHGkSyyCbCRUjt6BALX1kJZJAN7RoCRG4QAvD_BwE
  15. Ophori, E.A., Musa, Y.T., Azih, A.V.,Okojie, R. and Ikpo, P.E. (2014) . Current Trends of immunization in Nigeria: perspective and challenges. Trop Med Health 42(2):, 67-75 PMCID:PMC4139536 doi:10.214/tmh.2013-13
  16. Save-the-children (2022, March 8). Scaling up routine immunization coverage in Nigeria. Save-the-children Bulletin https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/scaling-routine-immunisation-coverage-nigeria
  17. World Health Organization (2017, April 7). Seventy-seven percent (77%) of children 12-23 months in Nigeria did not receive all routine immunization. World Health Organization Bulletin https://www.afro.who.int/news/seventy-seven-percent-77-children-12-23-months-nigeria-did-not-receive-all-routine.
  18. World Health Organization. (January, 2023). Diphtheria outbreak in Lagos. World Health Organization Bulletin https://www.afro.who.int/countries/nigeria/news/diphtheria-outbreak-response-lagos-state-sensitizes-communities-vaccine-efficacy