Risk Factors for Measles Outbreak: An Unmatched Case Control Study in Kabridahar District, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia

Background: Measles is a highly contagious, serious respiratory viral disease characterized by fever, and maculopapular erythematous rash. Before widespread vaccination in 1980, measles was responsible for an estimated 2.6 million deaths worldwide each year. Objective: of this study was to investigate the magnitude of measles outbreak and identify factors that contributed its incidence in Kabridahar District. Methods: A descriptive and unmatched case control study for 33 cases and 66 controls was conducted in Kabridahar district. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection from cases and controls. Data was analyzed by using Microsoft excel and SPSS 20. Result: A total of 33 cases and 66 controls were recruited for this outbreak investigation data collection. The overall attack rate was 0.4/1,000 with zero case fatality. From the total cases, 17 (51%) were male and 16 (49%) were female. 18 (55%) out of the total cases were reported from the age group 5-14 years. 13 (39%) from the total 33 cases were reported from Elhar kebele, 7 km from Kabridahar town. The mean age of cases and controls were 7.6±4.6 SD and 7.5±4.8 SD respectively. 20 (61) of the cases and 16 (24%) of the controls didn’t ever receive vaccination for measles. Cases that had contact history with another confirmed measles case (AOR=3.5, 95% CI (5.9, 21.4)); presence of measles case (s) in the neighboring household and or within the household (AOR=14.5, 95% (3.0, 7.0)) and (AOR=9.5, 95% CI (1.8, 4.8)) respectively and not vaccinating children from measles virus (AOR=5.6, 95% CI (1.3, 2.4)) were significantly associated with the outbreak. Conclusion: History of contact with measles case (s), presence of case (s) in the neighboring household and or within the household and not vaccinating children timely were independent risk factors for this outbreak