Browsing by Author "Ndawi, Benedict Thobias"

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    A case control study on the relationship between tetanus toxoid immunization and the development and prognosis of neonatal tetanus at Muhimbili and Bugando hospitals
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 1980) Ndawi, Benedict Thobias
    A case-control study on the relationship between tetanus toxoid immunization and the development and prognosis of neonatal tetanus was done at Muhimbili and Bugando hospitals. A total number of neonatal tetanus cases studied was 78 and an estimated reported incidence of 2.2% live births in Dar Es Salaam was obtained. 41% of the total neonatal tetanus cases had their mothers immunized with 2 or 3 doses during pregnancy indicating immunization failure. The relative risk of neonatal tetanus for the non-immunized (0-1 dose) was found to be 2.6 times higher as compared to the immunized group. Considering the different vaccination groups the relative risk of getting neonatal tetanus of the 0 dose vaccination group as compared to the 3 dose vaccination group was 4.6 times higher, which gives an estimated effectiveness of about 80% for the 3 doses vaccination. However the case fatality rate was about the age at onset of symptoms and time from admission to death was about 65% for each of the different vaccination groups. But the age at onset of symptoms and time from admission to death was delayed in the 3 dose vaccination group as compared to 0 dose vaccination. Among the cases of neonatal tetanus in Dar Es Salaam the majority were from home deliveries, as compared to institutional deliveries. With the results, from the study recommendations have been made in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality of neonatal tetanus.