Immunization coverage of BCG among children reporting to tertiary care hospital by gender and nutritional status

Objective: To determine the immunization status for BCG in children reporting to tertiary care hospital by gender and nutritional status. Methods: Study was conducted at National Institute of Child Health, Karachi between June 2004 to December 2005. Total of 180 admitted patients were approached, 165 consented to participate in the study. Only inpatients were included. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Convenient sampling was adopted. Results: There were 165 children, most of them 96(58%) were less than 5 year of age. Females 91(55%) were commonly affected, 68(75%) were unimmunized, while 57(63%) were malnourished. 42(70%) of female children were both malnourished and unimmunized. The BCG vaccination ratio among M:F was.1:0.6, while M:F ratio among unimmunized children was 1:1.7. Overall 107(65%) cases were unimmunized. 95(58%) children were malnourished, 39(23%) cases were in PCM III. Pulmonary tuberculosis 70(42%) was the commonest presentation. The most serious type affecting primarily the unimmunized children of less than 05 years was tuberculous meningitis found in 23(14%) cases. Conclusion: Female children were less often vaccinated with BCG and were also more often malnourished than the male children. Malnourished females especially under 5 years of age and those who were not vaccinated were admitted with the disease. The social rights of our children especially the females should be addressed in every forum and platform. The idea identified need to be re addressed.