High Proportion of School Aged Children Susceptible to Mumps Virus Infections in the City of Mwanza, Tanzania: Should It be Included in the National Immunization Programme?
Ruth B. Rakiru
Archbishop Anthony Mayala School of Nursing, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Delfina R. Msanga
Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Rose Laisser
Archbishop Anthony Mayala School of Nursing, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Doreen Kamori
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Mtebe Majigo
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Stephen E. Mshana
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Mariam M. Mirambo *
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Dina Mahamba
Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Dodoma, P.O. Box 395, Dodoma, Tanzania.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: This study for the first time in Mwanza, Tanzania aimed at determining seropositivity of mumps virus in school aged children who are targeted for vaccination.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of the Study: This study was conducted in the city of Mwanza from July to September 2018.
Despite being common with reported associated complications in many resource limited countries, there is scarcity of information on its epidemiology in Tanzania.
Methodology: We enrolled 440 school children aged 6-12 years. Data was collected using a pre-tested structured data collection tool. Blood samples were collected, and sera were used for detection of mumps virus antibodies by indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data was analyzed using STATA version 13, 2013.
Results: The median age of enrolled children was 9(IQR: 8-11) years. The seropositivity of mumps IgG antibodies was found to be 94(21.4%, 95% CI: 17.5-25.1) while that of IgM was 1 (0.23%, 95% CI: 0.02-0.6). By multivariable logistic regression analysis, residing in rural areas (OR: 2.28, 95% 1.42-3.36, P=0.001) and age >10 years (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.03-2.7, P=0.036) independently predicted mumps IgG seropositivity.
Conclusion: A significant proportion of young children in urban areas of the city of Mwanza are susceptible to mumps virus infection indicating the need to generate more data across the country so as to institute appropriate control measures including measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination programme.
Keywords: Mumps virus, seropositivity, Mwanza, vaccination, Tanzania.