Trends of Diarrheal Cases and Mortality in under 5 Children in Ethiopia Pre and Post Vaccine Introduction (A 7 years Trend Analysis)

Background: Rotavirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in young children. Most children will experience at least one infection with rotavirus by the time they are five years old, with some requiring hospitalisation for dehydration with the highest incidence being in developing countries before the introduction of Rota virus vaccines which has been introduced into vaccination programme in Ethiopia since November 2013. Objective: This study assessed trends of diarrhea cases (morbidity and mortality) in under 5years� children in Ethiopia pre and post vaccine introduction. Methods: A retrospective population survey of all watery diarrhea cases (defined as 3 or more watery, non-bloody stools within 24 hours that has lasted for less than or =7 days) and mortality from national data (HMIS- health management information system) for the years 2011- 2013 and 2014-2017 was done. Results: There were 178, 057diarrheal cases, male, 118, 922 (66.8 %) and female, 59, 135 (33.2 %) in prevaccine era (2011-2013) with 22, 025 (13.2 %) diarrheal related deaths. In the post vaccine era (2014-2017) 59, 788 diarrheal cases with males, 36, 154 (60.5 %) and females, 23, 634 (39.5 %) with deaths, 3, 079 (5.1 %). Conclusions: This study clearly demonstrated that there is significant reduction in diarrheal prevalence, 178, 057 VS 59, 788, (1.2 % and 0.43 %), diarrheal related mortality (13.2 % VS 5.1 %,) in Ethiopia.