Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

1.1. Introduction

Polio has returned to the Philippines. We have stopped polio before. Together,

we can stop this terrible disease again. Poliomyelitis or polio is a highly contagious disease

caused by Poliovirus invading the nervous system. It starts with feces as the poliovirus in feces

enters the body through the mouth and spreads through contact with an infected person’s

feces. In rare cases, the virus is transmitted through sneezing or coughing. The Poliovirus can live

in an infected person’s feces for many weeks and can contaminate food and water in unsanitary

conditions.

It can cause paralysis, sometimes even death, in a matter of hours. It is highly

infectious, and can have debilitating impacts. While it can strike anyone, at any age, the disease

mainly affects children under five years old. The disease can result in irreversible paralysis

affecting most commonly the leg muscles, but for 5 to 10 percent of acute flaccid paralysis

cases, the breathing muscles are also affected which can cause death.

In 2000, the Philippines was declared a polio-free country. After 19 years, the

virus resurfaced. This year, the Department of Health was alarmed because a child from Lanao

Sur was diagnosed with polio virus. To this date, there were seven cases reported to DOH who

are positive of this virus.. Hence, the latter conducted a nationwide program, that is, giving polio
vaccines to newborn up to 5 year old children. They are the ones vulnerable to this disease.

Aside from vaccine, the DOH encouraged the public to observe proper environmental sanitation.

The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) today announced an outbreak of

polio in the country. A poliovirus case was confirmed on 16 September 2019 in a 3-year-old girl

from Lanao del Sur. In addition, environmental samples from sewage in Manila and waterways

in Davao were confirmed to contain the virus. The Philippines is also at risk of infection with

poliovirus from neighboring countries where it was recently found to have recirculated.

According to the DOH, complete vaccination is the best preventive measure against polio. All

children under 1 year old should complete their three doses of OPV and one dose of inactivated

polio vaccine.

This aims to increase awareness about polio virus and to encourage further

actions to reduce it from spreading. The commemoration of the day also highlights the success

of global strategies in reducing the spread of the disease. A simple public health intervention

could not only protect future generations from the debilitating impacts of this disease, but also

write a story of success that will reinvigorate public support for the life-changing impact of

foreign aid investment, - happening right now.

1.2. Significance of the study

 The Parents- Parents were most interested in protecting their own children. They were

reluctant to accept any level of risk to protect others. The role of vaccines in interrupting disease

transmission in addition to providing individual protection had to be explained repeatedly.

 The Children- To protect more children from being infected. It reminds us of the importance of

increasing immunization coverage to 95% of children to stop polio virus transmission in the

Philippines. So that, vaccination is the only and best protection against polio that mainly affects

children under 5 years of age. As long as one children across the country and even beyond are at

risk of contracting polio.

 The Professionals- To simply know the cases of poliomyelitis where the hospital was involved.

They are the one who have an idea to eradicate and handle the spread of virus.

 The Government- Achieving eradication are costly, to lessen the finances that was wasted on

giving cure and providing vaccines to ensure the protection of every individual. It can also

benefits our economic status to progress and grow better.

1.3. Scope and limitation

This study will be conducted to professionals working in Amai Pakpak, Marawi

City, who have an idea about Poliomyelitis virus. By means of professionals, this includes all the

workers holding a degree or degrees.

1.4. Definition of terms

 Polio or poliomyelitis- is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by poliovirus.

The virus spreads from person to person and can infect a person’s spinal cord, causing

paralysis.

 Feces- are the solid or semisolid remains of food that could not be digested in the small

Z. Bacteria in the large intestine further break down the material.

 Paralysis- is the loss of muscle function in part of your body. It happens when something

goes wrong with the way messages pass between your brain and muscles. Paralysis can

be complete or partial. It can occur in just one area, or it can be widespread. Paralysis of

the lower half of your body, including both legs, is called paraplegia. Paralysis of the

arms and legs is quadriplegia.

 Debilitating- causing serious impairment of strength or ability to function.

 Flaccid paralysis- is a neurological condition characterized by weakness of paralysis and

reduced muscle tone without other obvious cause. This abnormal condition may be

caused by disease or by trauma affecting the nerves associated with the involved

muscles.

 Resurfaced- to appear again after not being seen or heard.

 Diagnosed- to recognized and name a disease by signs and symptoms

 Vaccines- a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide

immunity against one or several diseases, its product, or a synthetic substitute, treated

to act as an antigen without inducing the disease.

 Vulnerable- able to be easily physically, emotionally, or mentally wounded or hurt.

 Commemoration- something that is done to remember officially and give respect to a

great person or event.

  Reinvigorate- to give new or renewed strength or energy to something or someone: to

invigorate again.

1.5. Objectives

 To know the perception of the professionals in Amai Pakpak about the poliomyelitis

and on how to avoid it.

 To gather informations about poliomyelitis and on how to avoid it.

 To identify the causes and symptoms pf poliomyelitis virus.

1.6. General Questions

1. What is the knowledge, attitude and practices for a health care professionals towards

poliomyelitis?

1.7. Specific Questions

1. How do they acquired the needed knowledge about the disease?

2. What is the difference in treatment between a polio-patient from other communicable

disease-related patients?

3. What are their conception on the polio vaccination?

4. What measurements had they done for the sudden polio-outbreak in the Philippines?