Five-Year Trend of Measles and Its Associated Factors in Pahang, Malaysia: A Population-Based Study

Abstract

Measles is a disease that has resurfaced as a public health concern in Malaysia. Malaysia has had a Measles Elimination Program in place since 2004, but the incidence of measles in Pahang has not improved significantly. The purpose of this study was to describe the incidence and trend of measles in Pahang, as well as to identify the risk factors. The five-year population-based surveillance data of the entire Pahang state was extracted and analyzed for the trend and incidence of measles from January 2016 to December 2020. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between measles and available sociodemographic data. A total of 2844 reported measles cases were investigated. Out of the measles cases reported, 7.41 percent were confirmed. According to the five-year fluctuating trend, the incidence rate ranges from 13.51 to 50.97 per 1,000,000 population. Confirmed measles was significantly associated with an indigenous background (AdjOR = 4.90, 95% CI: 1.74, 13.78), history of contact with measles cases (AdjOR = 14.03, 95% CI: 8.23, 23.90), and incomplete vaccination (AdjOR = 3.38, 95% CI: 2.28, 5.01). In conclusion, the incidence of measles in Pahang remains sporadic, owing to sporadic outbreaks. Vaccination is an important preventive measure that must reach out to the isolated populations such as indigenous people.

The challenges and main recommendations to fight measles in India: A mini review

“…Measles is an acute illness, characterized by high-grade fever, coryza, cough, conjunctivitis, and Koplik spots. The incubation period ranges from 10 to 14 days, and the highly infectious phase lasts from 4 days before the development of maculopapular rash to 4 days following its appearance [ 1 ]. Commonly, measles can be complicated by otitis media and diarrheal infections, whereas less common but more serious and life-threatening complications include pneumonia, encephalitis, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.…”

A Behavioural-Theory-Based Qualitative Study of the Beliefs and Perceptions of Marginalised Populations towards Community Volunteering to Increase Measles Immunisation Coverage in Sabah, Malaysia

“…The COVID-19 pandemic caused both positive and negative changes in measles incidences and immunisation coverage in the country. More specifically, in one Malaysian state, the number of measles cases reported in 2019 was higher than 2018 but decreased in 2020 [ 12 ]. This decrease could be due to the COVID-19 prevention measures that the country implemented or low measles detection due to inefficient surveillance systems, pandemic-related disruptions to the healthcare system, and decreased propensity to seek medical attention on the part of the patients [ 13 ].…”