The Impact of Rotavirus Vaccine on Diarrheal Diseases Among Children Under Five Years: A Retrospective Analysis of Data From 2012 To 2015 In the Yilo Krobo Municipality of Ghana

Abstract

Introduction: Diarrhea is an important childhood disease with high morbidity and mortality among children under 5 years of age in developing countries such as Ghana. Rotavirus vaccine was introduced in Ghana in 2012 to reduce the incidence of diarrhea among children in Ghana. The objective of the study is to assess the impact of rotavirus vaccines on the burden of diarrheal diseases among children under five years reported in the Yilo Krobo Municipality from 2012 to 2015.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of routinely collected and reported data on the monthly outpatient department (OPD) morbidity returns and vaccination reports from health facilities in the Yilo Krobo Municipality was done.
Results: The burden of diarrheal diseases in children under five years declined from 2012 to 2014 with a slight increase in 2015. Diarrhea formed 9.71% of OPD cases in children under five years in 2012 with a reduction to 7.73% between 2013 and 2015.
Conclusion: The rotavirus vaccine has had some impact on the incidence of diarrheal diseases reported at the outpatient departments.