Objective: To understand the risk factors of measles among babies under 8-months-old and people ≥15 years old, in Gansu province.
Methods: Laboratory-confirmed measles cases were divided into two groups among children below 8-months-old and those ≥15 year olds. Descriptive epidemiology and 1:3 case control study were conducted to find out those related risk factors as:hospital exposure, contact with measles cases, vaccination, history of measles etc. so as to determine the risk factors and appropriate control measures.
Results: Histories of hospital exposure, contact with measles cases and travelling to other cities were risk factors for measles among babies younger than 8-months and people ≥15 year olds. Vaccination appeared a protective factor for people ≥15 years of age. From 42 cases and 126 controls, through multivariate analysis, results showed that hospital exposure was the only significant factor ( OR = 29.23, 95%CI:2.82-302.89)for those babies younger than 8-months. Factors as hospital exposure and travelling among cities for 7-21 days before being infected, were with significant importance ( OR = 5.15, 95% CI:2.28-11.63; OR = 5.48, 95%CI:1.38-21.69)for people ≥15 years of age, according to the observation from 74 cases and 222 controls.
Conclusion: In order to reduce the incidence of measles among babies under 8-month-old and people ≥15 years old, efforts on control of nosocomial infection should be strengthened, while the routine immunization coverage need to be increased for the children at higher risks, to reduce the source of infection.