title: Prevalence of paralytic poliomyelitis in rural and urban populations in Ethiopia: report of a house-to-house survey.
abstract: A house-to-house survey was carried out to determine the prevalence of poliomyelitis. During the survey 37,219 households were visited and 17,941 children 5-9 years old were found. Of 231 lame children, lameness compatible with paralytic poliomyelitis was found in 131, of these 91% had their condition before the age of 3 years. Nineteen percent needed a stick support for walking while 12% were unable to walk even with support. This problem was more common in rural populations. The prevalence of paralytic poliomyelitis was 7.3/1,000 children 5-9 years old.
authors.affiliation: Gondar College of Medical Sciences, Gondar Regional Health Department, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maru
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Getahun
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoshna
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007842:Lathyrism / Q000150:complications; D010243:Paralysis / Q000151:congenital / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications