65pc of children hospitalised with measles were malnourished: Study

The findings were presented at a dissemination meeting on measles research at the auditorium of the Shishu Hospital on Wednesday.

The study included 354 children hospitalised with suspected measles. Of them, 43 per cent were aged between three and nine months. Some 38 per cent of the children had not been exclusively breastfed during the first six months of life. Among children who died, the proportion was 82 per cent, indicating that a large majority of fatal cases had not received exclusive breastfeeding during their first six months.

Based on age and vaccination status, researchers divided 341 children into four groups. Among 146 children under nine months who were not yet eligible for routine measles vaccination, measles was detected in 142, or 97.3 per cent. Of 126 children who were eligible for vaccination but had received no dose, 122, or 97 percent, tested positive for measles.

Among 48 children who had received one dose of measles vaccine, 44, or 92 per cent, were diagnosed with measles. Of the 21 children who had received two doses, 16, or 76 percent, tested positive.

Researchers cautioned that the 76 per cent figure should not be interpreted as the measles infection rate among children who received two vaccine doses, as all participants had been hospitalised with suspected measles. Therefore, the finding applies only to the hospital-based study population.

Prof AKM Azizul Haque, chairman of the governing board of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, chaired the meeting. State Minister for Health and Family Welfare MA Muhith attended as the chief guest.