SEROPREVALENCE OF RUBELLA AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN ILORIN

Abstract

Congenital Rubella Infection can be prevented and future generation saved
from disability by protecting women of reproductive age through vaccination. The aim
of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Rubella virus antibodies among
women of reproductive age group and assess risk factors to Rubella infection.
A cross sectional study was carried out among 285 women aged between 15
and 49 years. Enzyme immunoassay method was used to detect and quantify
human IgM and IgG antibodies with avidity for Rubella virus in sera of participants.
Socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, along with recent and previous
history of fever, rash and adverse pregnancy outcome among others were obtained
using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was carried out using the program
statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16.
Majority (78.3%) of the women recruited for the study were within 15-34 years
age range. None of participants knew about their Rubella vaccination status.
Seroprevalence of Rubella IgG among women of reproductive age in Ilorin was
92.3% (95% CI: 89.2%-95.4%). Thus susceptibility rate to Rubella infection was
7.7%. Seroprevalence was significantly higher among participants from lower
educational and socio-economic classes compared with other participants (P=0.035
& 0.023 respectively). There was a negative correlation between age and Rubella
specific IgG titre (p=0.000). Thus Rubella specific IgG titre decreases with increasing
age. A total of 7 (2.5%) of reproductive age women in Ilorin had a recent primary
infection while 16 (5.6%) had a past Rubella infection or recent re-infection.
In conclusion, there is need for vaccination of susceptible women of
reproductive age in Ilorin as the Rubella susceptibility rate was higher than the 5.0% target set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for prevention of CRS.

SEROPREVALENCE OF RUBELLA AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN ILORIN