Evaluation of Epidemiological Determinants Influencing Measles among Children with History of Measles Vaccination

Background: Measles has been a major public health concern leading to death among children despite availability of safe and cost-effective vaccines. Global push to improve vaccine coverage resulted in an 84% reduction in deaths. However, data from the year 2016 still reveals that there were 89, 780 measles deaths globally.¹ Aim: To study the epidemiological determinants influencing measles in children previously immunized with measles vaccine. Objectives: To determine the proportion of measles infected cases with history of prior measles immunization. To compare clinical profile of patients with and without history of prior measles immunization. Setting and design: Record based, Retrospective Cross sectional Study. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using hospital records from an infectious disease hospital situated in Greater Mumbai. The study was carried out over duration of 1 year. Records of all cases admitted for measles from January 2013 to December 2013 were studied in detail. Sampling technique used was universal sampling. Total sample size was 471. Majority of the cases were admitted based on the WHO clinical definition while for a few suspicious cases Measles specific IgM was carried out. Statistical analysis used: Chi square test. Results: Out of 471 case records reviewed for measles, 47% children were vaccinated for measles. Percentage of undernourished children who received the immunization was 48%. A statistically significant association was observed for age, gender and duration of disease amongst those who were immunized for measles (p<0.01). Conclusion: A significant percentage of children despite immunization suffered from measles. Age, gender and nutrition were found to play a vital role in acquisition of measles both in the vaccinated and unvaccinated children.