Cholera Outbreak amongst Migrants in Vulnerable Communities - A Call for Vaccination Upscale and Risk Assessment in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: The continued prevalence of cholera outbreaks and cholera-related mortality in Nigeria despite the vast improvements in health globally has necessitated the need for mass immunization of affected communities with cholera vaccines. Although the initiative was initially criticized, mass immunization has gained traction in preventing cholera. Migrant populations constitute a population that is vulnerable to epidemics due to their sub-standard lifestyle and poor living conditions. To understand how protected migrants are from outbreaks such as cholera, we must gauge the level of vaccination uptake and acceptance among this group.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in four local government areas of Oyo State between October and November 2024, among migrant communities. Data was collected using an interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire with sections eliciting responses to questions on the socio-demographic characteristics, their knowledge and awareness of cholera and the vaccination. In addition, the respondents were quizzed to ascertain if they had received the cholera vaccine. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data, while simultaneously carrying out chi-square tests at a significance level of 5%.

Results: Most of the respondents were males (55.4%), aged between 30 and 39years (26.9%). While 48.9% of responses came from Benin Republic nationalities, only 38.1% had formal education. At one time or another, 68.1% of the population knew about cholera. Awareness in the existence of the National Health Insurance Scheme was significantly associated with awareness about the cholera vaccine (p<0.001). Enrollment in the scheme however was not significantly associated with awareness about the cholera vaccine (p=0.12).

Conclusion: Prevention demands a multi-faceted strategy for cholera outbreaks. With the help of cholera vaccines, a preventive strategy receiving attention lately is mass immunizations. To draw attention to this approach, more should be done among Christians and the employed populations.