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  • Title: Childhood mortality among users and non-users of primary health care in a rural west African community.
    Author: Velema JP, Alihonou EM, Gandaho T, Hounye FH.
    Journal: Int J Epidemiol; 1991 Jun; 20(2):474-9. PubMed ID: 1917252.
    Abstract:
    To evaluate the effectiveness of primary health care (PHC) interventions implemented through the Pahou PHC Project, the utilization of PHC by 74 children aged 4 to 35 months who died in 1986 or 1987 was compared to that of 230 controls who survived and were individually matched by date of birth, sex and place of residence. The crude death rate was 35.9/1000/year. Measles vaccination before the first birthday significantly reduced the risk of mortality (Relative Risk/RR = 0.4). Children with less than 75% weight for age early in 1986 had an increased risk (RR = 4.3). Children who died had had significantly fewer contacts with the village health worker (VHW) in the last six months prior to death (RR = 0.3). A similar association was not observed for periods more than six months prior to death. Children who had more regular contact with the VHW throughout life were better protected than children for whom contact had been less systematic. We conclude that VHWs contribute to a better survival of young children through regular personal contact with the household. Researchers analyzed the relationship between use of primary health care services and child mortality in 16 villages in the communes of Pahou and Avlekete on the Atlantic coast of Benin. The case control study included 74 4-35 month old children who died in 1986-1987 and 230 controls who survived. Overall child mortality stood at 35.9/1000/year. Fever and convulsions, presumably malaria, were the most likely cause of the majority of deaths (38 cases). No protective effect of a village health worker (VHW) visit in the 6 months before death occurred between fever and convulsion cases and other causes of death cases, however. VHWs had visited considerably more controls than cases in the 6 months prior to death (RR ..3; p.05). Indeed the greatest protective effect occurred in children who has been seen by VHWs had visited 71% of all children for a median of 4 visits each. Poor children were only slightly more likely to die than nonpoor children. Children whose weight for age was 75% of the standard for their age has a 4.26 relative risk (RR) of mortality (p.05). Further, when the researchers excluded cases who died within 3 months of the weight measurement, the RR remained high (2.9) and the association significant (p=.08). Measles vaccination between 9-12 months old significantly protected children against mortality (RR .36; p.05). On the other hand, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccination did not have a significant protective effect. In conclusion, personal and household contact with a VHW and measles vaccination between 9-12 months improves child survival for 4-35 month old children.
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