An earlier report on the Nigerian expanded programme on immunization (EPI), covering 1974-1988, failed to demonstrate a clear-cut impact of the programme. This report attempts to determine the effectiveness of EPI in Borno State, Nigeria. We analysed trends in routine notifications for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, tuberculosis, measles, and pneumonia, from 1985 to 1991; data on poliomyelitis were excluded because of poor documentation, while we included data on pneumonia for comparison. We also performed a before (1983-1987) after (1988-1991) comparison in terms of the intensifications of EPI by age-specific strata amongst paediatric hospitalization for all EPI diseases at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the sole referral hospital for childhood infectious diseases. Our results show an apparent reduction in morbidity from diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles and pneumonia, and this was particularly prominent following intense vaccinations between 1988 and 1991. The reduction in these EPI diseases and pneumonia occurred despite the prevailing adverse socioeconomic conditions, and the absence of a specific control strategy for pneumonia in Nigeria. On the other hand, in spite of national BCG coverage of about 90% there has been a recent (1989-1991) increase in the registered cases of tuberculosis in infants and older children in Borno State. There is a need to intensify other intervention measures alongside EPI activities.
