Tetanus toxoid immunization among mothers who have deliver during the last 12 months: coverage, knowledge, a􀆫tudes and associate factors in Elramash rural area (March 2008‐February 2009)

Abstract

Commonly, tetanus is a disease of the ac􀆟ve age (5 to 40 years). This period predisposes to all kinds of trauma and therefore, the risk of acquiring the disease is pretty high. Tetanus occurring in the newborn is known as “ Neonatal tetanus “ which is a killer disease, second only to measles among the six target disease of EPI. Even with treatment, the case‐fatality rate can be as high as 80 – 90 percent (virtually 100 percent). WHO defines elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) as less than 1 neonatal tetanus (NT) case per 1000 live births (LBs) in every district. While progress has been made, by the end of 2008 MNT s􀆟ll remains major public health problem in 46 countries, Sudan being one of them. In Sudan tetanus vaccine is offered routinely to infants in combination with diphtheria, pertussis, hepatitis B and Heamophilus influenzae type b, in one dose. According to the national immunization schedule the child received three primary doses of the combined vaccine given at intervals of 4‐8 weeks, star􀆟ng at 6 weeks of age. The pregnant women offered five doses of adsorbed tetanus toxoid vaccine (TT), the primary course consist of two doses (each dose 0.5 ml, injected in to the arm) given at intervals of 4‐8 weeks, the third dose at least 6 months a􀅌er the second dose, the fourth and fifth doses each of them are given at least 1 year intervals