Rubella and measles seroprevalence among women of childbearing age, Argentina, 2002

Abstract

To assess rubella and measles susceptibility among women of childbearing age we conducted a cross-sectional seroprevalence study in four cities and one rural area in Argentina. A convenience sample of women aged 15-49 years seeking care in public health-care institutions was selected (n=2804). Serum specimens were tested for rubella and measles IgG antibody titres. The overall susceptibility to rubella and measles was 8.8 and 12.5% respectively. Seroprevalence differences were found for both rubella (P<0.001) and measles (P=0.002) across sites. Rubella seroprevalence was higher in women aged >or=40 years than in younger women (P=0.04). Measles seroprevalence tended to increase with age (P<0.001). Approximately 15% of women aged 15-29 years were not immune to measles. No risk factors were associated with rubella seronegativity; however, age (P<0.001) and having less than four pregnancies (P<0.001) were factors associated with measles seronegativity. Our findings support the introduction of supplemental immunization activities targeting adolescents and young adults to prevent congenital rubella syndrome and measles outbreaks over time.

Seroprevalence of rubella in the cord blood of pregnant women and congenital rubella incidence in Nha Trang, Vietnam

“…Our multivariate analysis supported no association of parity or maternal educational status with rubella susceptibility, which is consistent with findings elsewhere [23][24][25][26]. Apparent association on univariate analysis was probably due to increased maternal age as a confounding factor, although there might be a potential risk of transmission from elder siblings to mothers.…”

Soroprevalência da rubéola na população urbana e rural de Guaratinguetá

“…Até o final da década de 1980 era desconhecida a verdadeira magnitude da rubéola na maior parte dos países da América Latina, incluindo o Brasil. Nos últimos anos, estudos de soroprevalência vem sendo realizados em alguns grupos populacionais, cujos resultados vêm norteando a definição e a implementação de estratégias de vacinação 4,5,6,7,8 . …”

Rubella Antibody Avidity Among Rubella Seropositive Women Attending a Tertiary Care Facility in Nigeria

“…Rubella IgG seropositivity rate increased with increasing age, but it was not statistically significant. Studies by Dayan et al (18) and Palihawadana et al (19) found significant increasing seroprevalence of rubella with increasing age. A study by Pehlivan et al (20) among Turkish women however, reported no significant relationship between age and rubella seroprevalence.…”

“…Low avidity rubella IgG antibodies were significantly more in younger age group than older age group (P = .001). The group with low avidity IgG are at risk of a reinfection which carries a low (8%) risk for having children with CRS (18). It may also indicate recent rubella infections in 11.9% participants which are in their reproductive age.…”