Legacy of Polio-Use of India's Social Mobilization Network for Strengthening of the Universal Immunization Program in India.
other · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 28838190.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1093/infdis/jix068 and PMC identifier 5854010.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
The Social Mobilization Network (SMNet) has been lauded as one of the most successsful community engagement strategies in public health for its role in polio elimination in India. The UNICEF-managed SMNet was created as a strategy to eradicate polio by engaging >7000 frontline social mobilizers to advocate for vaccination in some of the most underserved, marginalized, and at-risk communities in India. This network focused initially on generating demand for polio vaccination but later expanded its messaging to promote routine immunization and other health and sanitation interventions related to maternal and children's health. As an impact of the network's interventions, in collaboration with other eradication efforts, these high-risk pockets witnessed an increase in full routine immunization coverage. The experience of the SMNet offers lessons for health-system strengthening for social mobilization and promoting positive health behaviors for other priority health programs like the Universal Immunization Program.
Medical subject headings
- Health Personnel
- Immunization Programs
- Poliomyelitis
- Social Networking