Factors Influencing Tetanus Among Children Under Five Years In Hiran Regional Hospital

Commonly, tetanus is a disease of the active age (5 to 40 years). This period Predisposes to all kinds of trauma and therefore, the risk of acquiring the disease is high. Tetanus occurring in the newborn is known as “Neonatal tetanus “which is a killer disease, second only to measles among the six-target disease of EPI. Even with treatment, the case-fatality rate can be as high as 80 – 90 percent (virtually 100 percent). Tetanus is an acute, potentially fatal disease that is characterized by generalized increased rigidity and convulsive spasms of skeletal muscles. Tetanus is caused by the spore-forming
bacterium Clostridium tetani. Clostridium tetani spores (the dormant form of the organism) are found in soil and in animal and human feces. The spores enter the body through breaks in the skin, and germinate under low-oxygen conditions. Puncture wounds and wounds with a significant amount of tissue injury are more likely to promote germination. The organisms produce a potent toxin tetanospasmin is a neurotoxin that inhibits the release of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The toxin then
reaches the nervous system, causing painful and often violent muscular contractions.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of tetanus was conducted from 1st May 2021 to 30th
Oct 2021 on 44 children patients, collected from Hiran Regional Hospital.
Result:
1) The percentage of caregivers’ beliefs tetanus is preventive disease 97.7% responded yes while 2.3% responded no.
2) The place of the baby delivered, the majority 50% delivered at home, while 12% delivered at MCH and 10% delivered at hospital.
3) The percentage of caregivers’ beliefs tetanus is transmittable disease, the majority