INTRODUCTION

Measles is a highly contagious disease usually seen in childhood. It can prove fatal and is primarily controlled by vaccination (1). In this study, the authors aimed to determine the seroprevalence of measles antibodies in children six years and under in Eastern Turkey and to identify the relationship between measles seroprevalence and several socio-demographic characteristics, and to develop the best vaccination policy for measles. The study sample consisted of 840 children, up to six years of age, from three provinces (Erzurum, Erzincan and Kars). The cluster sampling method was used for selecting subjects of a predetermined number in the rural and urban areas (2, 3). A composite index was used to determine the socio-economic level of the family (4).