Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Gulu Regional Hospital, P.O. Box 160, Gulu, Uganda; Mengo Hospital, P. O. Box 7161, Kampala, Uganda
Mupere, E., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda, Gulu Regional Hospital, P.O. Box 160, Gulu, Uganda; Onek, P., Mengo Hospital, P. O. Box 7161, Kampala, Uganda; Babikako, H.M., Mengo Hospital, P. O. Box 7161, Kampala, Uganda
Objective: To assess the impact of supplemental mass measles immunisations. Design: Retrospective study of hospital and health centre records. Setting: Gulu district, Northern Uganda, having approximately 81% of the population living in internally displaced persons' (IDPs) camps. Results: The mean age in months for 4,812 measles cases seen was 28.2 ± 46.0 (p<0.0001). Supplemental mass immunisations in 1997 and 2000 caused a 91% reduction of measles cases, 93% reduction of mortality, 91% reduction of bed-days and 79% reduction of outpatient cases. There was a 67% reduction in mean measles case admissions, 63% reduction in mean measles mortality, and 73% reduction in mean measles bed-days following district mass measles immunisations in 1997. However, following IDPs camps supplemental immunisations in 2000; there was 82% reduction of mean measles case admissions, 80% reduction of mean measles mortality and 88% reduction of mean measles bed-days. Conclusions: In similar situations, supplemental mass measles immunisations should be focused on IDPs camps with a wide age group in addition to improved routine immunization activities in the entire district.
adult; article; emergency health service; epidemic; epidemiology; female; health care quality; human; male; mass immunization; measles; outcome assessment; refugee; retrospective study; Uganda; Adult; Disease Outbreaks; Emergency Medical Services; Female; Health Care Surveys; Humans; Male; Mass Immunization; Measles; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Program Evaluation; Refugees; Retrospective Studies; Uganda