Prevalence of Measles in Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Children: a Cross Sectional Study

Background: Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that continues to pose a public health challenge, particularly in developing countries like Pakistan. Despite the availability of effective vaccines, measles outbreaks remain common, exacerbated by gaps in vaccination coverage and other socioeconomic factors. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of measles and its association with vaccination status among children aged 4 months to 15 years presenting at Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital, Swat. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 children diagnosed with measles. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS-27. Children were categorized into vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, and associations with demographic and clinical variables were assessed. Results: Among the 400 children, the prevalence of measles was 50.2%. The highest prevalence was observed in the 5–10 years age group (56.6%). A significant association was found between vaccination status and measles prevalence, with 43.34% of vaccinated and 67.4% of unvaccinated children affected (p = 0.04). Females had a significantly higher prevalence (58.65%) than males (p = 0.006). Complications occurred in 57.2% of cases, with pneumonia (37.4%) and diarrhea (27.8%) being the most frequent. Conclusion: The study highlights the effectiveness of measles vaccination in reducing disease incidence. However, cases among vaccinated children point to issues such as secondary vaccine failure and cold chain management. Enhanced immunization programs, improved healthcare access, and strategies to address vaccine hesitancy are critical to achieving measles elimination in Pakistan.