| Items |
Young fathers (Jere) |
Young mothers (Mmc) |
Traditional leaders (Bama) |
Tmp (Gwoza) |
Tmp (Biu) |
| Common diseases affecting children
Which one of them is most serious, that leads to death? |
Malaria, measles chickenpox, diarrhea, vomiting, malnutrition, dankanoma or rana-anal candidiasis and abdominal distension.
Malnutrition and malaria, dankanoma, diarrhea and vomiting |
Malaria, rashes, diarrhea, vomiting, whooping cough, tuberculosis.
Malaria, diarrhea and vomiting, dankanoma, |
Measles, whooping cough, malaria, vomiting and diarrhea, tetanus and bilharzias.
Whooping cough, dankanoma, malaria, tetanus. |
Fever, eclampsia, polio, diarrhea and vomiting associated with teething. Anal candidiasis, cough, tonsillitis, malnutrition, abdominal pain with infants, malaria and pneumonia
.
Malaria, pneumonia,tamua (malnutrition) dankana. |
Measles, pertusis, diarrhea and vomiting, sickle cell, chiwon damuna (candidiasis).
Anal candidiasis and pertusis. |
|
Treatment remedies |
Orthodox medicine for diarrhea, sabara leaves or root for dankanoma, for measles orthodox medicine mostly, but we sometimes use onions which is grounded and applied to the body. We also use purified traditional mixture called “baby race” or teething mixture. |
Traditional medicine, guava leaves and drugs from various plants. Some are effective but not all. When they fail we consult orthodox medicine. |
Resort to mallams, we also use potash with herbs like kaashi. |
Herbal mixture especially for dankana, measles , whooping cough etc |
For measles, pertusis etc, by special means called ‘tying of the disease’ offer of special prayers, special drug for diarrhea, vomiting and fever. |
|
How effective are they?
Do you know about immunization? |
Most are very effective.
Yes |
Yes, it prevents disease.
Yes |
Yes with the help of Allah our problems are being solved.
Yes |
Very effective especially for dankana, and malnutrition.
Yes |
The one for diarrhea, vomiting and fever is very effective.
Yes |
|
How many types do you know? |
Measles, polio |
Polio, measles, whooping cough, etc |
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Measles and polio. |
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| `What is Immunization? |
Prevention of disease through the use of drugs. |
Drugs given to prevent disease. |
It prevents thosesicknesses in children. |
Treatment given toprevent diseases such as polio, whooping cough, measles etc. |
Form of protection. |
|
Are there other alternatives to immunization? |
Yes. Use of traditional charms to stop spread of infectious diseases. |
Yes, traditional medicine, use of onions. Mixture of butter and garlic used for fever and convulsion. |
No , immunization prevents the diseases
mentioned. |
Yes, there is immediately after birth, different drugs are available for childhood diseases such as dankama and malnutrition. |
Yes, drop in the mouth for measles, makes it mild even when child is infected. Tying of the disease is also done to stop the disease from spreading in cases of measles and pertusis. |
|
Is immunization effective any of the diseases you mentioned earlier? |
Yes |
Yes for diseases like measles and whooping cough. |
Yes, it prevents those diseases. |
Yes, the government cannot bring anything that is not good. |
Yes, the number of children with measles and whooping cough are now less. |
|
Do you support immunization activity in your community? |
Yes, it has really reduced diseases among our children; it has taken another dimension and is making people to be suspicious. |
Yes, all women are willing to take it for their children. |
We all support it. |
Yes |
Yes, even though the health workers do not involve us, we just watch. |
|
Do you accept immunization? |
Yes |
Yes, we advocate for immunization in this community |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Have all you children been immunized? |
Yes |
Yes, except one participant |
Yes |
Yes |
NA |
|
What do you think are the benefits of immunization? |
There are great benefits. Rate of measles has reduced. |
Many benefits. Diseases are mild when children are immunized. |
It prevents diseases in children. |
It is beneficial, before polio was seen as witchcraft |
It has great benefits; measles and pertusis have reduced greatly. |
| What do you think should be done to improve acceptance of immunization? |
Provide free drugs, need for government to meet the basic needs of people. Donor agency should provide drugs. Waste disposal should be improved |
Create more awareness among those who are unwilling to accept immunization. Renovate health centres and build more. |
The campaign is now better, children are given sweets, chewing gum etc. however parents need to be given free drug |
Advice men to encourage their wives to go for ante natal care and improve access during rainy season. |
We need to be appreciated and be integrated in the scheme of things. We feel neglected in Biu. |
|
What of traditional/community leaders |
They should be actively involved. |
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The Shehu of Bama called all of us traditional leaders, Lawans and Bulamas to
Warn them that any parents who refuse immunization will be jailed for three years. |
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