82% of measles deaths linked to lack of breastfeeding in first 6 months: Study

A study conducted by Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute (BSHI) and icddr,b found that 82 percent of children who died from measles had not been exclusively breastfed during their first six months of life. 

The findings were presented at a meeting on measles research at the BSHI auditorium in the capital on Wednesday. 

Health and Family Welfare State Minister MA Muhit, who attended the meeting as chief guest, said Bangladesh may need at least two to three months to bring the measles situation under control and improve overall management. 

“We have to work within this period, reduce the number of deaths and ensure better management,” he said.

Muhit said it would be unrealistic to expect a long-standing health problem to be resolved within a day or the following week. 

Most hospitalised children are under one year

The research showed that 43 percent of children admitted to hospitals with measles were between three and nine months old, highlighting the vulnerability of infants during the current outbreak.

The study found that 38 percent of affected children had not received exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months after birth.

Among children who died, however, the proportion rose sharply to 82 percent.

The finding suggests that lack of exclusive breastfeeding may be an important vulnerability among children suffering severe measles, particularly during the first months of life.

The research also found that 97.3 percent of children under nine months of age, who were not yet eligible for routine measles vaccination, were diagnosed with measles.

Among children old enough to receive vaccination but who had not received even a single dose, 97 percent were diagnosed with measles, according to the study.

Outlining the government's plans for child healthcare, Muhit said children's health is being given the highest priority.

He said five fully fledged children's hospitals in five divisional cities are expected to begin operations within the next two to three months.

To address the shortage of healthcare workers, the government will also recruit 5,000 doctors, 1,000 nurses and 100,000 field-level workers soon, he said.

Muhit said around 80 percent of Bangladesh's population depends on the public healthcare system, which faces various challenges after years of mismanagement, corruption and neglect.

The country also has a large network of private hospitals and diagnostic centres, where concerns over quality control and profit-driven practices remain, he said.

He noted that autonomous institutions such as Bangladesh Shishu Hospital, Holy Family and BIRDEM have helped create a balance between the public and private healthcare sectors.

The state minister said the government would continue working to reduce measles deaths while strengthening healthcare services and management to bring the situation under control.