PERINATAL AND POSTNATAL DETERMINANTS OF MEASLES RISK IN INFANTS LESS THAN 9 MONTHS OLD

Abstract

Objective

To determine the frequency of perinatal and postnatal factors associated with measles risk in infants less than 9 months old.

Study Design

Cross-sectional study

Place And Duration Of The Study

Department of Paediatrics, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi, from February 2025 to June 2025

Methodology

A total of 174 infants of either sex younger than 9 months presenting with fever, cough, coryza, conjunctivitis or generalised maculopapular rash were enrolled through nonprobability consecutive sampling. Maternal age, gestational age, birth weight, mode of delivery and breastfeeding status were compared by measles status using the chi square or Fisher exact test, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05.

Result

The mean age at presentation was 4.77 ± 2.35 months. Boys accounted for 89 (51.1%) participants and girls for 85 (48.9%). Measles was clinically diagnosed in 31 (17.8%) infants. Mean maternal age was 19.81 ± 2.82 years in cases and 19.22 ± 2.97 years in non-cases (p = 0.320). Preterm delivery (p = 0.631), low birth weight (p = 0.495), mode of delivery (p = 0.291) and exclusive breastfeeding (p = 0.176) did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusion

Nearly one in six symptomatic infants under 9 months of age developed clinical measles in this paediatric population, with classical clinical respiratory and exanthematous features being the most frequent. In this single centre analysis, none of the perinatal/postnatal determinants of measles status were significantly associated.