Current trend in childhood measles in Benin city, Nigeria
MO Ibadin, AI Omoigberale
Department of Child Health. University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
M O Ibadin Department of Child Health. University of Benin, Benin City Nigeria
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
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Medical record·\ of 6-1 children admitted into the Paediatric wards for measles at the University of' Benin Teaching Hospital (l 18TH), Benin City, Nigeria between July 1 993 and June 1996 were reviewed. The last quarter o/ 1995 and first quarter of 1996 witnessed upsurge in the admission rate of measles with increasingly older
children being affected. Forty-eight of 60 cases (75%) were immunised against measles while 75% of the 16 patients who had immunisation did so in private health facilities.
was the commonest complication but ocular complication seen in 9.8% of cases as well as poor nutritional status were associated with poor prognosis. The health education curriculum l?(our schools would need to he improved upon as educational status of mothers of such children did not positively influence the use of vaccination against measles. it would appear that the initial gains of the Expanded Programme on immunisation (HPJ) are being undermined. This may be connected with the recent changes in the methods· of vaccine procurement and distribution.\· in Nigeria. if the global eradication of measles is to be achieved. factors perpetuating measles infections in various communities as epitomised by our Benin experience should be promptly addressed.
