Interpretation of Rotavirus-positivity Patterns Across India.

ABSTRACT

bjective To analyze variation in rotavirus-positivity using simple alternative statistical measures. Methods: Hospital-based rotavirus surveillance among children admitted with acute gastroenteritis between 2005 and 2009. Prevalence, adjusted proportions and symmetrized index were calculated. Results: Rotavirus prevalence was 40% (range 37% - 44%). Adjusted proportion analysis revealed higher level of deviation from annual prevalence in seasons (December – February and September – November); age groups (<12 months and 12-23 months) and regions (East and South). Analysis of symmetrized index revealed higher estimates of variation in all years, except in 2006. Conclusion: Proposed statistical measures are useful as refined measures to study extent of disease spread in surveillance programmes, aiding evaluation of the load and pattern of disease burden in different regions over time.