The Pan African medical journal
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in 2014, Tanzania introduced the combined measles-rubella vaccine in the routine immunization schedule. Two doses of measles-rubella vaccine (MR1 and MR2) are recommended at 9 and 18 months, respectively. In 2015, MR2 coverage among eligible 18-month-old children in Tanzania was only 57%, lower than the WHO-recommended coverage (95%). During the same period Mtwara District Council (MDC) reported a coverage of 52% which is lower than the nation average. We determined factors associated with non-uptake of MR2 among children in MDC Tanzania. ⋯ more than half the children under five years in MDC were not vaccinated with MR2. Lack of caretaker knowledge about appropriate vaccination age, unavailability of vaccine, having insufficient numbers of children waiting to warrant multidose vial use, and long clinic waiting times were associated with MR2 non-uptake. The community should receive education about MR vaccine; we recommend thorough screening of children?s vaccination status at each clinic visit and provision of vaccine whenever possible. Vaccine distribution should be improved in MDC.
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Multicenter Study
Prevalence and pattern of lower extremity injuries due to road traffic crashes in Fako Division, Cameroon.
Low and middle income countries are disproportionately affected with road traffic injuries and the lower extremity is one of the most affected anatomical body parts. There exist very limited data on the pattern of lower extremity injuries in the Cameroon especially in the South West Region. We therefore, hypothesized that lower limb injuries are common in road traffic crashes and motorized two wheelers are the commonest cause. ⋯ In view of our findings we conclude therefore as follows: The prevalence of lower extremity injuries from Road Traffic Crashes in our study area was 47.93%. Associated risk factors to the road traffic crashes as identified by the victims were bad roads (10.15%) and bad weather (5.05%). The safety gargets were not adequately utilized by our victims, with 87.72% confirming that they did not wear the helmet and 87.50% affirming that they did not wear the seat belt at the time of the crash. The occupations mostly affected in our series were pupils and students (20.3%) and business people (19.2%), then the bike riders (15.23%). We thus recommend that the laws on the use of road safety gargets, especially helmets and seatbelts, be enforced, with riding and driving speeds reduced to below 60km/hour. Road usage should be avoided in bad weather and pedestrians lanes and zebra crossings be provided to minimize pedestrian-car or -bike collision.
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In November 2015 a measles outbreak was detected in several clustered settlements during the Northern Measles Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) campaign in Gwagwalada, Nigeria, a measles outbreak was detected. Six weeks later another outbreak with 17 cases was reported in a different settlement in the same area council in December 2015 and January 2016. An outbreak investigation was initiated to characterize the outbreak in terms of time and person and implement prevention and control measures. ⋯ There had been cases of measles from January 2015 to November 2015 prior to the reported measles outbreak. However there was an unusual increase in the number of measles cases during the measles SIAs in communities where children were missed. Vaccination of all eligible children in the affected wards was carried out. The area council authorities and primary healthcare team need to create awareness on the importance of measles vaccination and ensure that these communities are targeted and covered during subsequent SIAs.
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Animal bite injuries are a common public health concern in Uganda. We sought to characterize animal bite injuries among patients presenting to Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. ⋯ Dog bites injuries from unrestrained, un-signaled dogs are the commonest source of animal bite injuries especially among children (<18 years). Vaccination against rabies was only confirmed for a very small number of dogs, as majority were unknown and likely stray dogs. Government and public sensitization is urgently required to limit stray dogs, vaccinate dogs and restrain them to prevent a grave probability of a looming canine rabies epidemic.
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Pneumococcal meningitis is a global scourge. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In Morocco, 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) was introduced into the National Immunization Program in October 2010 according to the immunization schedule 2 + 1 and replaced by PCV10 in July 2012, according to the same schedule. ⋯ We report the case of an infant vaccinated with two doses of PCV13 with meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 7a. The peculiarity of this case study lies in pneumococcal meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 7a not included in the PCV13 in an infant immunized by 2 doses of PCV13. We here insist on the need and the importance of an observatory for pneumococcal meningitis and of a wide epidemiological study in order to determine the serotypes in Morocco after the introduction of PCV13 and then of PCV10.