Sero-positivity rate of rubella and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Mwanza, Tanzania

Abstract

BackgroundSero-positivity rates of the rubella virus among pregnant women vary widely throughout the world. In Tanzania, rubella vaccination is not included in the national immunization schedule and there is therefore no antenatal screening for this viral disease. So far, there are no reports on the sero-prevalence of rubella among pregnant women in Tanzania. As a result, this study was undertaken to establish the sero-positivity rate of rubella and rubella risk factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics in Mwanza, Tanzania.MethodsFrom November 2012 to May 2013 a total of 350 pregnant women were enrolled and their serum samples collected and analyzed using the AXSYM anti-rubella virus IgG/IgM-MEIA test. Demographic and clinical data were collected using a standardized data collection tool. Data analysis was done using STATA version 12.ResultsOf 342 pregnant women tested for rubella antibodies, 317 (92.6%) were positive for anti-rubella IgG while only 1 (0.3%) was positive for IgM. Higher sero-positivity rates were found in the age group of 25–44 years. Furthermore, it was observed that with each year increase in age, the risk of contracting rubella increases by 12% (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.02-1.22, P = 0.019). Women involved in farming and business women were at a higher risk of contracting rubella infection compared to formally employed women (OR: 4.9, P = 0.011; OR 7.1, p = 0.003 respectively). In univariate analysis, the risk of contracting rubella virus infection was found to increase with gestational age with a statistical significance.ConclusionsSero-positivity rates of rubella are high in Mwanza and are significantly associated with an increase in age and being a farmer or a business woman. Screening of rubella and immunization of women at risk are highly recommended in this area with a high non-immune rate against rubella virus.

Estimating the burden of rubella virus infection and congenital rubella syndrome through a rubella immunity assessment among pregnant women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Potential impact on vaccination policy

“…Our 351 finding of no statistically significant increases in rubella antibody seroprevalence with increasing age (after 352 approximately 15 years of age) has been observed in a number of the above-mentioned serosurveys and others 353 [34, 35, 39, 42-46, 48, 49, 53, 54]. Moreover, in agreement with published observations from other African 354 countries, for the assessment population in DRC overall, rubella antibody seroprevalence was similar among 355 19 women declaring residence in urban versus rural settings; however, differences in antibody seroprevalence were 356 observed between different geographic areas in the country [31,34,38,41,43,44,46,51]. Last and consistent 357 with reports from other African countries, age at first pregnancy, number of pregnancies, civil status, 358 educational level, and occupation were not associated with rubella antibody seroprevalence in DRC [34, 38, 41, 359 44-46, 53].…”

TORCH Antibodies Among Pregnant Women and Their Newborns Receiving Care at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania

“…38 Moreover, infection of rubella virus leads to lifelong immunity. Similar trends of exposure to rubella were reported in Nigeria (87.5%), 39 Tanzania (92.9%), 40 Haiti (93.4%), 41 Turkey (93.8%), 42 and Croatia (94.6%) 31 ; however, our findings showed a higher prevalence to rubella than reported in Burkina Faso (77%) 43 and western Sudan (65.3%). 44 Exposure to CMV among pregnant women was also high in our study.…”

A 16-year review of seroprevalence studies on measles and rubella

“…All countries surveyed, having a developed or developing status, had national vaccination programmes. However, of the countries in the least developed status, two of the 13 countries (Guinea-Bissau and Bangladesh) [10,25,70,77,89] reporting measles serosurveys and six of the eight countries (Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Nepal, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania) [25,54,56,81,85,97,98] reporting rubella serosurveys reported having no nationally coordinated vaccination programme at the time of the study. Forty-three percent of published measles serosurveys were conducted in developed countries, reflecting the need to identify susceptible populations and immunization gaps as these countries move towards achieving the measles elimination goal.…”