Effects of Measles Vaccine and Its Associated Risk Factors Among Children Presenting in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Rawalpindi/Islamabad

Abstract

Objectives: To identify risk factors associated with the development of measles among children under 12 years of age in a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi/Islamabad and to determine the effectiveness of measles vaccination in the study population.

Methods: A retrospective case control study was done from January 2022 to January 2023 at the Department of Pediatrics, Holy Family Hospital (HFH), Rawalpindi & PAEC General Hospital, Islamabad. Total 600 children were included in the study. The hospital data record had children under the age of 12 with measles. Case controls were enrolled without measles at the same hospital, matched for age and sex. Study outcomes were analyzed by multivariant regression test adjusted with age and sex.

Results: The average age of the children was 32.24±14.58 months. Mothers with low education were mostly have measles [OR: 4.1, 95% CI: 1.9-6.5, for primary schooling and OR: 1.1, 95% CI: 0.7-2.0, for matriculation]. Children with measles were mostly not breastfed during the first 2 years of life [OR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.5-1.4]. Cases were also more likely to have never been vaccinated [OR: 8.2, 95% CI: 5.5-15.0] and never vaccinated other children at home [OR: 6.5, 95% CI: 4.5-10.0].

Conclusion: The study concluded that breastfeeding and proper weaning practices are necessary to eradicate measles.