Field investigation of high reported non-neonatal tetanus burden in Uganda, 2016-2017.
Int J Epidemiol
; 52(4): 1150-1162, 2023 08.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36762894
BACKGROUND: Despite providing tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccine (TTCV) to infants and reproductive-age women, Uganda reports one of the highest incidences of non-neonatal tetanus (non-NT). Prompted by unusual epidemiologic trends among reported non-NT cases, we conducted a retrospective record review to see whether these data reflected true disease burden. METHODS: We analysed nationally reported non-NT cases during 2012-2017. We visited 26 facilities (14 hospitals, 12 health centres) reporting high numbers of non-NT cases (n = 20) or zero cases (n = 6). We identified non-NT cases in facility registers during 1 January 2016-30 June 2017; the identified case records were abstracted. RESULTS: During 2012-2017, a total of 24â518 non-NT cases were reported and 74% were ≥5 years old. The average annual incidence was 3.43 per 100â000 population based on inpatient admissions. Among 482 non-NT inpatient cases reported during 1 January 2016-30 June 2017 from hospitals visited, 342 (71%) were identified in facility registers, despite missing register data (21%). Males comprised 283 (83%) of identified cases and 60% were ≥15 years old. Of 145 cases with detailed records, 134 (92%) were clinically confirmed tetanus; among these, the case-fatality ratio (CFR) was 54%. Fourteen cases were identified at two hospitals reporting zero cases. Among >4000 outpatient cases reported from health centres visited, only 3 cases were identified; the remainder were data errors. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of non-NT cases and deaths occur in Uganda. The high CFR and high non-NT burden among men and older children indicate the need for TTCV booster doses across the life course to all individuals as well as improved coverage with the TTCV primary series. The observed data errors indicate the need for data quality improvement activities.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Tétanos
Tipo de estudio:
Etiology_studies
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Incidence_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged80
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Child
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Child, preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Infant
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Male
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Epidemiol
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos