title: Notification of five of the EPI target diseases in South Africa. An assessment of disease and vaccination reporting.
abstract: The incidence of 5 of the 6 EPI target diseases, diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles and tuberculosis, in South Africa is examined. Incidence is linked to vaccination coverage and an assessment of municipal vaccination coverage and programme monitoring is made. Diphtheria incidence has decreased sharply and this is probably due to vaccination. A change in the cyclical pattern of polio incidence may be due to improved vaccination. No influence of vaccination could be detected with respect to measles, tetanus and tuberculosis. Vaccination programmes report results as 'total doses given' and not as coverage rates. Improvements in three major areas, i.e. vaccination coverage, programme monitoring and evaluation and programme co-ordination are proposed.
mesh_terms: D004165:Diphtheria / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013019:South Africa; D013742:Tetanus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014611:Vaccination