Non-specific effects of vaccination on child survival: prospective cohort study in Burkina Faso.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of vaccination on mortality before 2 years of age in a developing country.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Rural communities in Burkina Faso.


METHODS
9085 children born in the study area between 1985 and 1993.


METHODS
Child death rate.


RESULTS
Mortality before 2 years of age was lower in children who had been vaccinated: those vaccinated with BCG only had significantly lower mortality (risk ratio for vaccinated v unvaccinated children 0.37, 95% confidence interval 0.29 to 0.48) as did those vaccinated with diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis only (0.24, 0.13 to 0.43). The second dose of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis was not associated with lower mortality (0.80, 0.58 to 1.12).


CONCLUSIONS
Vaccination with diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis as well as BCG is associated with better survival of children up to 2 years of age.
Vaugelade
J
J
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Laboratoire Population, Environnement et Développement, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. vaugelad@ird.fr
Pinchinat
S
S
Guiella
G
G
Elguero
E
E
Simondon
F
F
D001500:BCG Vaccine; D002050:Burkina Faso / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D015996:Survival Rate; D014611:Vaccination / Q000401:mortality*
D001500:BCG Vaccine; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine