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Seroprevalence of pertussis among children in Eastern Turkey

T Inandi1, A Guraksin, N Hacialioglu

  • 1Public Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey. tinandi@atauni.edu.tr

Public Health
|April 14, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Most preschool children in Eastern Turkey lack pertussis immunity, with only 30.1% seroprevalence. Current diphtheria-tetanus-whole-cell pertussis (DTwP) vaccination strategies may not ensure adequate protection against pertussis.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Immunology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Pertussis remains a significant public health concern globally.
  • Assessing immunity status is crucial for evaluating vaccination program effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the seroprevalence of pertussis in children aged 0-71 months in Eastern Turkey.
  • To investigate the association between socio-demographic factors and pertussis immunity.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study involving 840 healthy children aged 0-71 months.
  • Serological testing to determine pertussis antibody levels.
  • Statistical analysis of socio-demographic data and antibody titers.

Main Results:

  • Overall pertussis seroprevalence was 30.1%.
  • Factors associated with higher pertussis antibody titers included male gender, urban residence, and higher diphtheria-tetanus-whole-cell pertussis (DTwP) vaccine doses.
  • No significant association was found between age, parental education, or economic status and antibody titers.

Conclusions:

  • A substantial proportion of preschool children in Eastern Turkey are susceptible to pertussis.
  • Current DTwP vaccination schedules may not confer sufficient long-term immunity.
  • Further research and potential booster strategies are warranted to improve pertussis protection in this population.

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