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Measles in Nigerian children in Calabar during the era of expanded programme on immunization

E O Ibia1, A A Asindi

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

Tropical and Geographical Medicine
|July 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in Nigeria showed a measles incidence decline but a concerning rise in deaths and younger victims. Delayed vaccination and poor nutrition may explain these negative impacts.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Measles remains a significant childhood illness globally.
  • The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) was launched in Nigeria in 1984 to combat vaccine-preventable diseases.
  • Assessing the impact of immunization programs on disease trends is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the influence of Nigeria's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) on measles cases and outcomes.
  • To analyze changes in measles incidence, age distribution, and mortality rates post-EPI implementation.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of children admitted with measles at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
  • Comparison of data from the EPI period (post-1984) with a pre-EPI period (June 1981-May 1983).
  • Analysis of measles incidence trends, age of affected children, and overall death rates.

Main Results:

  • A downward trend in overall measles incidence was observed in the initial 4 years of the EPI campaign.
  • The proportion of measles cases in children under 9 months old increased from 15% to 21%.
  • A sevenfold increase in the overall death rate among measles patients was recorded.

Conclusions:

  • Despite a potential reduction in overall measles incidence, the EPI campaign in Nigeria faced challenges.
  • Delayed measles vaccination (at 9 months instead of 6 months) and declining nutritional status likely contributed to increased mortality and younger cases.
  • The benefits of shifting the measles vaccination age to 9 months require further investigation in the Nigerian context.

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