Predictors and outcome of tetanus in newborns in slum areas of Karachi City: a case control study

Background Tetanus in newborns, is an under-reported public health problem and a major cause of mortality in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the predictors and outcome of tetanus in newborn infants in the slums of Bin-Qasim town, Karachi, Pakistan. Methods We conducted a case–control study at primary health care centers of slums of Bin-Qasim town, area located adjacent to Bin Qasim seaport in Karachi, from January 2003 to December 2013. Cases were infants aged ≤30 days with tetanus, as defined by the World Health Organization. Controls were newborn infants aged ≤30 days without Tetanus, who were referred for a checkup or minor illnesses. The case to control ratio was 1:2. Results We analyzed 26 cases and 52 controls. The case fatality was 70.8%. We identified four independent predictors of Tetanus in newborns: maternal education (only religious education with no formal education OR 51.95; 95% CI 3.69–731), maternal non-vaccination (OR 24.55; 95% CI 1.01–131.77), lack of a skilled birth attendant (OR 44.00; 95% CI 2.30–840.99), and delivery at home (OR 11.54; 95% CI 1.01–131.77). Conclusions We identified several potentially modifiable socio-demographic risk factors for Tetanus in newborns, including maternal education and immunization status, birth site, and lack of a skilled birth attendant. Prioritization of these risk factors could be useful for planning preventive and cost-effective measures.


Background
Elimination of tetanus particularly in newborns is an essential and attainable Millennium Development Goal [1,2]. Globally, the incidence of tetanus in newborns has significantly fallen and is currently responsible for only 1% of newborn deaths. However, Tetanus in newborns is still a major cause of death in lower and middle income countries, such as Pakistan [3,4]. In 2008, estimated deaths due to Tetanus in newborns were 59,000 [3] and these mainly occurred in poor communities [3,4]. Pakistan is one of the 34 countries that have not achieved the global elimination of Tetanus in newborns [5]. According to a WHO study, among 797 reported cases of newborn tetanus in 2005, 518 (65%) were in Pakistan [4]. This, however, is likely to be a substantial underestimate as tetanus remains largely unreported and hidden within the community [4].
To establish predictors and potential strategies to modify the incidence of Tetanus in newborns, we conducted a case-control study in the slums of Bin-Qasim town, Karachi, Pakistan.

Methods
We conducted a case-control study in primary health care centers located in slum areas of Bin-Qasim town, including Ibrahim Hyderi, Ali Akber Shah Goth, Rehri Goth, Bhains (cattle) Colony, and Bilal Colony from Open Access *Correspondence: arjumand.sohaila@aku.edu 1 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan Full list of author information is available at the end of the article January 2003 to December 2013. The total population of Bin Qasim Town is approximately a million. These areas are located along the Arabian coast adjacent to Bin Qasim seaport in Karachi and have a large community of fishermen living in poverty and unhygienic conditions. Our subjects were newborn infants. Cases were newborn infants aged ≤30 days with Tetanus, as defined by the World Health Organization; either self-referred or referred by community health workers (CHWs) to primary health centers. After documentation and initial treatment, cases were immediately referred from primary health centers to the nearest tertiary care hospital. Controls were also newborn infants aged ≤30 days without Tetanus selected from the same population and referred (by self/CHW) to the same primary health centers, either for a checkup or minor illnesses. The case to control ratio was 1:2. Subject information was collected by the guardians of babies (mostly mothers) at the time of enrollment and, additionally, extracted from health center records. Details include baby's age and sex, maternal age, parity (either multi or Primi) and educational status etc. Educational status was divided in three categories: None (Neither went to school nor have religious education) went to school (Those completed primary or secondary education), Only religious education (Those who never went to school but had non-formal religious education at home or somewhere else); Vaccination status was defined as vaccinated i.e. complete and un-vaccinated i.e. partial or no vaccination against Tetanus. Delivery site was defined as home or hospital; birth attendant (include skilled birth attendant like doctors or nurses) and Unskilled birth attendant (These are those who had no formal training for safe delivery practices and include relatives, neighbors or Traditional birth attendants (TBA's) locally known as Dia's). All the information collected after having informed consent from parents or guardians. This study was approved by the Ethical Review Committee of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
Data entry and analysis were performed with SPSS 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The Chi square test was applied to compare the values of selected variables related to Tetanus in newborn infants. A P value of <0.05 was considered as significant. Associations between candidate predictors of Tetanus were estimated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression, and expressed as odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results
Analysis includes 26 cases and 52 controls. The babies were aged from 3 to 16 days of age and there was a male to female ratio of 2:1. Table 1 compares the values of selected variables for Tetanus in newborn infants. Most of the cases (61.5%) were identified in male infants.

Table 1 Demographic variables of the population with and without Tetanus in newborns
Data adapted from the government sector and a survey by the private sector.

Discussion
In our study, we found that mothers whose infants developed Tetanus were significantly more likely to be unimmunized, have delivered at home and to have been assisted by unskilled birth attendants like relatives, neighbors or traditional birth attendants (TBAs, locally known as dais). Though they have no formal training, dais are part of the community and trusted, therefore, people frequently seek their assistance for delivery at home. Typically, dais do not have clean delivery kits (CDKs) and use whatever is easily available at home for delivery purposes such as a kitchen knife, scissors, and shaving blades. A similar case-control study in Karachi concluded that non-use of a CDK (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.3-3.1) and lack of a skilled birth attendant (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.1-2.7) were independently associated with an increased risk for Tetanus in newborn babies [6]. In another study, 80% of Tetanus cases in newborns in Multan were delivered at home (4). In low resource settings, training of TBAs and dais for safe delivery practices and providing them with CDKs for free and in excess appears to be effective strategy for prevention of Tetanus in young infants [6]. In our study, in common with others, lack of maternal immunization against tetanus was also a risk factor for Tetanus in newborn infants [7,8]. Maternal immunization against tetanus reduces Tetanus associated mortality by 88% (two doses) [9] and by 94% (three doses) [10] in newborns. However in countries, such as Pakistan, trustworthiness and acceptability for recommended vaccines are permanent challenges [11]. Reasons for this include a lack of awareness, illiteracy, and misconception [7]. Similar to other studies, we also observed that maternal only religious education with no formal education [8] and lack of awareness [8] as a predictor for Tetanus in young infants, reflecting misconceptions about immunization. This can be partially overcome by public awareness with frequent visits of female health workers [7], education of TBAs (dais), and use of mass media but many of these beliefs run very deeply. In our study, case fatality due to Tetanus in newborn infants was 70.8%, which is consistent with other community studies [4]. Although case fatality in such settings is high, up to 78% survival is reported in tertiary care settings with intensive care and respiratory support [4]. Billoo et al. [12] reported reduced mortality from 24 to 50% by active involvement of mothers at the Civil Hospital in Karachi. In another study, Tetanus-related case fatality among newborns was 30.1% [13]. This previous study showed an admission rate of 96% over 11 years and all of them had received standard treatment. The authors discussed that a low case fatality may be due in part to  hospitalization bias for severe cases and the infants being discharged on guardian's request [13]. Improved hospitalization, use of a standard treatment protocol, and good nursing care account for a low case fatality [14,15]. This study has some limitations including a small sample size, under-reporting or underestimation of cases due to failure of health care professionals to make reports, and residual confounders.

Conclusions
Although we cannot exclude residual confounding i, we found some modifiable socio-demographic predictors for Tetanus in young infants, including maternal education and immunization, birth site, and birth attendants at the time of delivery in a poor slum setting in Pakistan. Effective preventive strategies include further improvement from the presently existing immunization and health-service infrastructure. Public awareness and health education, maternal vaccinations, and promoting safe delivery practices by formal training of TBAs (dais) should be part of strategic planning. Risk factors that are identified should be given priority for planning of preventive and cost-effective measures. The renewed worldwide commitment for elimination of Tetanus in newborn infants could successfully translated into elimination by the universal introduction of a number of very simple measures.