Outcome of a multi-state measles campaign coverage in South-East, Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Nigeria, a signatory to the Global Vaccine Action Plan 2012–2020 has been conducting measles campaigns biannually as a key strategy for reaching measles elimination goal by the year 2020. OBJECTIVE: This 2017/18 post measles campaign coverage survey was carried out in South-Eastern Nigeria to determine the coverage of measles vaccination in the region. METHODS: Data was obtained from the 2018 post measles campaign coverage survey report involving households and children aged between 9-59months in 30 enumeration areas in each of the 5 states in South-Eastern Nigeria. A WHO EPI survey instrument was used for data collection. Data was analysed using Stata version 14. RESULTS: A total of 1,161 (81.6%) of children in the region had received measles vaccine before the campaign. State-levelcoverage before the campaign ranged between 71.9% - 90.4%. During the campaign, only Anambra state (95.7%) had coverage above 95% target. Abia state (11.3%) had the highest proportion of respondents uninformed about the campaign.Majority of the respondents obtained information about the campaign from community health workers (33.6%), none from the internet. CONCLUSION: Survey results highlighmeasles vaccine coverage gaps in South-East Nigeria. In order to achieve the 95% proposed measles vaccination coverage in this region, routine immunization and supplementary immunization activities should be intensified.