Abstract

BackgroundPneumonia and diarrhea occur either as complications or secondary infections in measles affected children. So, the integrated Global Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhea (GAPPD) by WHO and UNICEF includes measles vaccination as preventive measure in children. The objective of the study is to examine the effect of measles vaccination on Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) and diarrhea in children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan.MethodsWe analyzed data from the most recent rounds of Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) in the selected countries. We included children age 12–59 months in the analysis. We used multivariable binary logistic regression to examine the effect of measles vaccination on ARI and diarrhea in children. We also estimated Vaccination Effectiveness (VE).FindingsMore than 60 percent of the children age 12–59 months were given measles vaccine before the survey in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India and Pakistan. Children who were given the measles vaccine were less likely to suffer from ARI than unvaccinated children in India and Pakistan. Children who were given the measles vaccine had a lower risk of diarrhea than those who did not receive it in all the selected countries except Ethiopia. Measles vaccination was associated with reduction in ARI cases by 15–30 percent in India and Pakistan, and diarrhea cases by 12–22 percent in the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Nigeria and Pakistan.ConclusionThe receipt of the measles vaccine was associated with decrease in ARI and diarrhea in children. The immunization program must ensure that each child gets the recommended doses of measles vaccine at the appropriate age. The measles vaccination should be given more attention as a preventive intervention under the Global Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhea (GAPPD) in all low and middle-income countries.

Highlights

  • Measles is a highly contagious disease transmitted through a virus belonging to the Morbillivirus genus

  • The receipt of the measles vaccine was associated with decrease in Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) and diarrhea in children

  • This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of measles vaccination on ARI and diarrhea in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria and Pakistan

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Measles is a highly contagious disease transmitted through a virus belonging to the Morbillivirus genus. The virus usually disrupts the epithelial cells and suppresses the immune system leading to infection in various organ systems. The respiratory and intestinal tracts are the most affected sites in measles-infected children. When the measles virus affects the lower respiratory tract epithelium and destroys local immunity within the lungs, an individual suffers from pneumonia [2,3]. Pneumonia and diarrhea occur in 10–40 percent of measles cases either as complications or as secondary infections [2]. Pneumonia and diarrhea occur either as complications or secondary infections in measles affected children. The objective of the study is to examine the effect of measles vaccination on Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) and diarrhea in children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan

Objectives
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call