Conference abstract
Trend of confirmed measles incidence in Kunene region, Namibia, 2009 to 2015
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2017:3(87).27
Oct 2017.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2017.3.87.229
Archived on: 27 Oct 2017
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Measles, incidence, Kunene, Namibia
Oral presentation
Trend of confirmed measles incidence in Kunene region, Namibia, 2009 to 2015
Iyaloo Mwaningange1, Kofi Nyarko1,&
1Namibia Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Windhoek, Namibia
&Corresponding author
Kofi Nyarko, Namibia Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Windhoek,
Namibia
Introduction: measles is a highly infectious viral disease caused by a Morbillivirus, for which reason humans are the only reservoirs. Between 2009 and 2015, Namibia recorded 1932 confirmed and epi-linked measles cases of which the Kunene region accounted for 6% (121) patients. This study aimed at examining the incidence and the trend of incidence by persons, place and time. The information derived from this study will be used to strengthen measles elimination strategies in the region.
Methods: we conducted retrospective study by analyzing measles surveillance data from 2009 to 2015. The confirmed measles cases in the study were laboratory confirmed with positive IgM antibody or epidemiological link to confirmed patients. We calculated the attack rate by age group and health districts and generated descriptive statistics such as: frequencies and averages and proportions using Epi-Info and Microsoft excel. We determined statistical significance at p-value < 0.05.
Results: there were a total of 121 cases of which IgM positive were 83 (69%) and epi-linked were 38 (31%). Ages ranged from 7 months to 42 years with a mean age of 3 years (SD). The attack rate for the entire population was 0.13% with 0 to 4 years having the highest attack rate of 1.31% (P = 0.0001). Opuwo Health District had 101 patients 84% (CI: 79 to 90) and attack rate of 0.17%. The annual incidences per 100,000 population were 34, 9, 0, 6, 4, 74, 5 respectively in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 (P = 0.01341). The data suggest an outbreak in Kunene region in 2009 and 2014 Opuwo Health District.
Conclusion: the 0 to 4-year age group for people residing in Opuwo District were the most affected. We recommend strengthening of health education and community sensitization to enhance uptake of measles, preventive interventions such as vaccination to reduce the incidence of measles in Kunene region particularly Opuwo District.
