Progress Toward Achieving and Sustaining Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination — Worldwide, 2000–2022

Abstract

Tetanus remains a considerable cause of mortality among undervaccinated mothers and their infants following unhygienic deliveries, especially in low-income countries. Strategies of the maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination (MNTE) initiative, which targets 59 priority countries, include strengthening antenatal immunization of pregnant women with tetanus toxoid–containing vaccines (TTCVs); conducting TTCV supplementary immunization activities among women of reproductive age in high-risk districts; optimizing access to skilled birth attendants to ensure clean deliveries and umbilical cord care practices; and identifying and investigating suspected neonatal tetanus cases. This report updates a previous report and describes progress toward MNTE during 2000–2022. By December 2022, 47 (80%) of 59 priority countries were validated to have achieved MNTE. In 2022, among the 50 countries that reported coverage with ≥2 doses of TTCV among pregnant women, 16 (32%) reported coverage of ≥80%. In 2022, among 47 validated countries, 26 (55%) reported that ≥70% of births were assisted by skilled birth attendants. Reported neonatal tetanus cases worldwide decreased 89%, from 17,935 in 2000 to 1,995 in 2021; estimated neonatal tetanus deaths decreased 84%, from 46,898 to 7,719. However, the global disruption of routine immunization caused by the COVID-19 pandemic impeded MNTE progress. Since 2020, reported neonatal tetanus cases have increased in 18 (31%) priority countries. Integration of MNTE strategies into priority countries’ national postpandemic immunization recovery activities is needed to achieve and sustain global elimination.

Introduction

Maternal and neonatal tetanus* remains a substantial cause of mortality among undervaccinated mothers and their infants following unhygienic delivery, especially in low-income countries (1). In 1989, the World Health Assembly endorsed neonatal tetanus elimination.^† This activity was relaunched in 1999 as the maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination (MNTE)^§ initiative, targeting 59 priority countries.^¶ Because tetanus spores cannot be eliminated from the environment, and tetanus infection does not confer immunity, elimination requires ongoing active immunization with a tetanus toxoid–containing vaccine (TTCV). To protect infants from tetanus susceptibility at birth, women of reproductive age (usually 15–49 years) should be vaccinated with ≥2 doses of TTCV (TTCV2+), and immunization is recommended for undervaccinated pregnant women early in the third trimester (2). The MNTE initiative includes four strategies: 1) providing antenatal immunization of pregnant women with TTCV2+; 2) conducting TTCV supplementary immunization activities (SIAs)** in selected high-risk districts,^†† targeting women of reproductive age for TTCV immunization; 3) supporting clean delivery and umbilical cord care practices through access to skilled birth attendants^§§; and 4) identifying and investigating suspected neonatal tetanus cases with reliable surveillance (2,3). Since the MNTE initiative began in 1999, the estimated proportion of neonatal mortality attributed to tetanus decreased 84%, from 2% in 2000 to 0.3% in 2021.^¶¶ The remaining risk for maternal and neonatal tetanus infection is concentrated in low-income communities with low TTCV coverage and limited access to hygienic delivery. This report summarizes progress toward achieving and sustaining MNTE during 2000–2022 and updates a previous report (4).

Methods

Immunization Activities, Deliveries by Skilled Birth Attendants, and Surveillance

To estimate TTCV coverage among pregnant women through routine immunization services and the number of neonates protected from tetanus at birth,*** the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF use vaccination coverage survey data and administrative data^††† received from member countries (5). WHO and UNICEF also receive summaries of the number of women of reproductive age receiving TTCV during SIAs (6). The percentages of births assisted by skilled birth attendants are estimated from country health facility reports and coverage survey estimates (7). WHO recommends nationwide, case-based neonatal tetanus surveillance, active surveillance through regular visits to reporting sites (8), and country reports of neonatal tetanus case counts.^§§§ Because most neonatal deaths occur in remote areas, which might lead to underreporting, neonatal tetanus deaths are estimated using mathematical models that project cause-specific neonatal mortality using Bayesian and multinomial frameworks (9). This activity was reviewed by CDC, deemed not research, and was conducted consistent with applicable federal law and CDC policy.^¶¶¶

Validation of Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination

Once a country’s surveillance data indicate that neonatal tetanus incidence has declined to <1 case per 1,000 live births in all districts, prevalidation assessments are conducted (3). Benchmarks for validating MNTE achievement include reaching <1 neonatal tetanus case per 1,000 live births, ≥80% routine TTCV2+ coverage among pregnant women, and ≥70% of deliveries assisted by skilled birth attendants. Assessments might also review supplementary measures, including TTCV2+ SIA coverage among women of reproductive age, antenatal care coverage,**** infant coverage with 3 doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine,^†††† socioeconomic indices, field visits to determine health system performance, validation surveys in the poorest performing districts, and assessment of long-term plans for sustaining elimination.^§§§§

Maintenance of Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination

Once MNTE has been validated, WHO recommends that countries conduct annual neonatal tetanus risk analyses as part of immunization program reviews, and postvalidation assessments every 5 years, to determine whether elimination has been sustained and take any necessary corrective actions (3). The following indicators were used to determine maintenance of MNTE countries’ performance: 1) ≥80% TTCV2+ coverage among pregnant women accessing antenatal care, 2) ≥90% routine immunization TTCV coverage among children and adolescents (i.e., receipt of 3 primary infant doses and 3 booster doses), 3) ≥70% of deliveries by a skilled birth attendant, and 4) ≥90% of infants protected at birth against tetanus (2).

Results

Immunization Activities

In 2022, among 59 priority countries, 50 (85%) reported antenatal TTCV2+ coverage data; 16 (32%) of these reported ≥80% TTCV2+ coverage. During 2000–2022, a total of 52 (88%) priority countries conducted TTCV SIAs (Table). Among 41 countries with 2000 and 2022 data available, TTCV2+ coverage increased in 30 (73%). Worldwide, the proportion of infants protected at birth increased from 74% in 2000 to 86% in 2022 (Figure 1), and the number of priority countries that achieved MNTE increased from 1 (2%) of 57 in 2000 to 47 (80%) of 59 in 2022 (Figure 2).

During 2000–2022, SIAs provided TTCV2+ to 177 million (70%) of 252 million women of reproductive age targeted to receive vaccination. During 2021–2022, seven countries conducted TTCV SIAs, vaccinating 13 million women of reproductive age. However, by the end of 2022, 68 million women who were targeted for protection by TTCV SIAs remained unreached.

Deliveries Assisted by Skilled Birth Attendants

In 2022, among 47 priority countries with available data, 26 (55%) reported that ≥70% of births were assisted by skilled birth attendants (Table). Compared with the most recent report (4), the proportions of births assisted by skilled birth attendants was higher in 12 countries (Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Kenya, India, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, and Nigeria) in 2022 than in 2020.

Neonatal Tetanus Surveillance and Incidence

Among the 59 MNTE priority countries, 11 (19%) reported zero neonatal tetanus cases in 2022; however, seven countries reported more cases in 2022 than in 2000 (Table). Worldwide, reported neonatal tetanus cases decreased by 89%, from 17,935 in 2000 to 1,995 in 2021. Estimated neonatal tetanus deaths decreased 84%, from 46,898 in 2000 to 7,719 in 2021, accounting for 2% and 0.3% of all-cause neonatal mortality, respectively (Figure 1). Since 2020, reported neonatal tetanus cases have increased in 18 (31%) priority countries, including 13 previously validated countries.

Validation of Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination

During 2000–2022, 47 (80%) of the 59 priority countries were validated to have achieved MNTE (Table). No countries achieved validation during 2020–2022; however, MNTE was validated in Mali in 2023.

Maintenance of Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination

As of 2022, among 47 MNTE-validated countries, 15 (32%) achieved ≥90% coverage with 3 primary doses of routine immunization TTCV. TTCV booster doses were included in the routine immunization schedule for children aged 12–23 months in 14 (30%) of those countries, and for children and adolescents aged 4–7 and 9–15 years in 11 (23%) countries. In 46 (98%) countries, ≥70% of infants were protected at birth against tetanus; and in 26 (55%), ≥70% of births were assisted by a skilled birth attendant (Table). Six countries have conducted postvalidation assessments.

Discussion

Substantial progress has been made toward global MNTE, with 80% of priority countries validated as having achieved elimination by the end of 2022. TTCV2+ coverage increased in 30 priority countries, and in 26 countries, skilled birth attendants assisted in ≥70% of births. Since 2000, 52 priority countries have conducted TTCV SIAs. During 2021–2022, seven countries yet to achieve MNTE conducted SIAs, reaching 13 million (42%) women of reproductive age with TTCV2+ and contributing to a 16% increase in the number of infants protected at birth. Worldwide, during 2000–2022, the number of reported neonatal tetanus cases declined by 89%, from 17,935 to 1,995, and estimated neonatal tetanus mortality decreased 84%, from 46,898 to 7,719, since 2000. In addition, by 2022 four of six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, and Punjab province in Pakistan were validated to have achieved elimination.^¶¶¶¶

Although progress has been substantial, challenges to MNTE remain, some of which were amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and its global disruption of immunization services.***** Many countries that have not yet validated MNTE have fragile health systems with barriers to improving vaccination coverage and accessing skilled birth attendants. For example, in countries experiencing political instability and conflict, more areas might be hard to reach, magnifying the challenges to providing immunization and safe hygienic deliveries, as well as ensuring reliable detection of and response to occurrent neonatal tetanus cases. Recovery of national immunization programs has been challenging in some countries that experienced increases in some vaccine-preventable diseases in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to continuing measures to achieve global MNTE, more attention is needed to ensure that elimination is sustained in countries previously validated to have achieved MNTE. Since 2020, reported neonatal tetanus cases have increased in 13 previously validated countries. This increase might indicate better surveillance system sensitivity; however, it might also reflect lack of protection at birth and the need for improved antenatal vaccination measures. By 2022, only one third of 43 MNTE–validated countries sustained ≥80% TTCV2+ coverage, and in 12 MNTE-validated countries, fewer than 70% of births were assisted by skilled birth attendants. As of 2022, fewer than one third of validated countries had introduced ≥1 TTCV booster dose into their routine immunization schedule. This slow introduction might be attributed to lower prioritization of MNTE activities after validation because of funding constraints, putting countries at risk for reemergence of neonatal tetanus (3).

Sustaining MNTE requires strong commitments from priority countries and the global community. Countries will need to improve resource and program efficiency by integrating postvalidation assessments with immunization program reviews and TTCV booster dose vaccination with other immunization activities (e.g., school vaccination programs). Innovative activities to integrate neonatal tetanus case-based surveillance into surveillance for other vaccine-preventable diseases, such as polio and measles, might support system efficiency and sustainability, and public engagement might help raise awareness and strengthen community-based vaccine-preventable disease surveillance systems (8).

Limitations

The findings in this report are subject to at least three limitations. First, reported TTCV2+ coverage among pregnant women can underestimate actual protection because it does not account for women who received TTCV doses in previous pregnancies but were unvaccinated during their current pregnancy (2). Second, whereas MNTE validation is based on district-level assessments, reports of immunization coverage used in this update are based on national estimates and might obscure interdistrict differences. Finally, neonatal deaths are estimated using mathematical models (9); thus, estimates are subject to model assumptions.

Implications for Public Health Practice

MNTE has been included in the WHO Immunization Agenda 2030^{†††††} global strategy as an endorsed vaccine-preventable disease elimination target. As part of the worldwide effort to increase immunization coverage after the COVID-19 pandemic, integration of MNTE activities with those of other vaccine-preventable diseases is needed to improve progress toward MNTE. One such strategy includes promoting a life course approach to vaccination by integrating TTCV booster doses in school health programs and in other life course immunization platforms (10). Promotion of equitable access to health services, such as clean deliveries, is also important to achieving MNTE.