<p>The purpose of this thesis is to describe a research strategy for evaluating the efficacy of a reduced dose maternal tetanus immunization schedule in reducing neonatal tetanus deaths in Sierra Leone.</p> <p>Neonatal tetanus has been demonstrated to be a major cause in infant death in areas where sanitary midwifery is unavailable. A review of the literature reveals evidence for reduction in neonatal tetanus deaths by maternal immunization using a conventional three dose adsorbed tetanus toxoid.</p> <p>In Sierra Leone, as in many developing countries, the resources are unavailable to maintain a three-dose schedule in the relatively inaccessible interior of the country. A two-dose schedule of a concentrated adsorbed toxoid has been recommended as an alternative by the World Health Organization. Research on simplified immunization schedules has been reviewed; the results are inconclusive.</p> <p>A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled design has been selected to address the research questions. Various aspects of this design are discussed with respect to methodologic and ethical issues.</p> <p>Procedures for carrying out the trial and for the assessment of neonatal tetanus death in a remote chiefdom in Sierra Leone are proposed. A procedure for the analysis of outcome data is presented.</p> / Master of Science (MS)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/7480 |
| Date | 09 1900 |
| Creators | Nelson, Lauris Harvey |
| Contributors | Nelson, Harvey Lauris, Design, Measurement and Evaluation: Health Care Research Methods |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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