Vaccination Coverage, Discrepancies and Trends in Measles Epidemics in the North West Region of Cameroon

Wasu Chrispus Nchandone¹, Ginette Claude Mireille Kalla², Njamnshi Alfred Nkongnyu³, Same Ekobo Albert⁴ and Assob Jules Clement Nguedia^5,

¹Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Cameroon / Regional Technical Group for the Expanded Programme on Immunization RTG-EPI, Regional Delegation of Public Health for the North West Region of Cameroon

²Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

³Department of Neurology, Central Hospital Yaounde, Cameroon, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaounde, Cameroon

⁴Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences – University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon

⁵Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala Cameroon

Cite this paper:
Wasu Chrispus Nchandone, Ginette Claude Mireille Kalla, Njamnshi Alfred Nkongnyu, Same Ekobo Albert and Assob Jules Clement Nguedia. Vaccination Coverage, Discrepancies and Trends in Measles Epidemics in the North West Region of Cameroon. American Journal of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease. 2022; 10(2):59-67. doi: 10.12691/ajeid-10-2-3

Abstract

Background: Measles, because of its burden of morbidity and mortality, is one of the most important diseases targeted by immunization. Caused by a virus, it is very contagious and therefore requires vaccination during the first year to avoid serious complications. Global death toll was over 140,000 persons in 2018. In recent years, measles cases have increased and outbreaks recorded due to declining vaccination coverage worldwide. Thus, countries that were previously declared measles-free and preparing to eliminate measles are still recording cases. This increase in measles incidence has also been observed in the North West region of Cameroon and outbreak surveys have indicated low vaccination coverage. Objective: Determine vaccination coverage and gaps for BCG, Pentavalent and Measles vaccines; as well as measles epidemic trends in the North West region of Cameroon. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study with retrospective collection of routine vaccination records and measles epidemic census reports that were carried out at the Regional Delegation of Public Health from 2009 to 2015. The data collected using a structured form were: data from immunization coverage records; age groups and time periods of measles cases reported during measles outbreaks. Results: Overall vaccination coverage for BCG, Pentavalent and measles was low, ranging from 55.5% to 74.7%; with a high dropout rate of more than 15.4% between the third dose of the pentavalent vaccine and the measles vaccine in 2010. The measles vaccine recorded its highest vaccination coverage of 67.9% in 2011. Measles outbreaks have been noted to mainly affect children between the ages of 5 and 15 and occur from January to March with a peak in February. Conclusion: Overall immunization coverage is low with high dropout rates between vaccines. The highest immunization coverage for the measles vaccine was 67.9%; with variations over time. Measles epidemics in the North-West region occur from January to March, with peaks in February and mainly concern children aged between 5 and 15 years.

Keywords:
measles vaccine coverage discrepancies epidemics and trends

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