Saira Afzal, Bushra Bint-e-afzal.
Risk factors associated with the outbreak of measles in Lahore, Pakistan.
Ann King Edward Med Uni Jan ;20(4):302-8.

In Pakistan, three consecutive epidemics of measles in 2012 – 13 affected many thousands of children. Objectives: To determine the risk factors associated with the outbreak of measles in Lahore. Methods: A population based case-control study with 1:1 case to control ratio was conducted in Lahore. Purposive Sampling was done. Results: Out of 100 subjects 50 were cases and 50 were controls. Demographic characteristics were described. The risk estimation was done by Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals. Logistic regression analysis was employed at significance of alpha 0.05. Among cases 89% children > 9 months of age, 57% males and 43% females came from highly populated areas with lack of vaccine availability (75%), mostly belonging to middle socioeconomic status (83%) and educated families (63%). Fifty five percent were vaccinated against measles from hospital or dispensary and few from mobile teams. 79% had history of travel to epidemic areas and history of breast feeding was present in 66%. Coexisting illness along with measles was present in 30% and 28% had Vitamin – A deficient diet. Twenty four percent parents showed lack of confidence in immunization program. Nineteen percent measles patient’s mothers were sick and treated during pregnancy. The lack of cold chain, lack of awareness of expanded program of immunization, and malnutrition were found statistically significant. Conclusion: The lack of Expanded Program of Immunization, transmission from surroundings and coexisting illness were found significant in measles epidemic.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com