Rubella virus infections and immune status among pregnant women before the introduction of rubella vaccine in Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

A large number of pregnant women had acute/recent rubella virus infections at the time of data collection, indicating that the virus is endemic in the study area. More than a tenth of pregnant women were found to be susceptible to acquiring the infection in future pregnancies, with the possible risk of rubella-associated congenital anomalies. Hence screening of all women of child-bearing age before conception and during pregnancy might reduce the devastating effects of the virus on the developing fetus.

Prevalence of Rubella Igg Antibodies Among Productive-Age ‎women in Al-Mahweet Governorate, Yemen

“…Also, the statistical analysis results showed the highly significant (P<0.05) differences between anti-rubella IgG prevalence and most of the educational level except individuals having a university degree. These findings are in agreement with Wang et al, 24,25 in Taiwan, that revealed that there was a statistically significant association between the low educational level and seronegativity to rubella. A similar study by Wondimeneh et al, 24 observed that no formal education participants had a slightly high rate of anti-rubella IgG.…”

“…These findings are in agreement with Wang et al, 24,25 in Taiwan, that revealed that there was a statistically significant association between the low educational level and seronegativity to rubella. A similar study by Wondimeneh et al, 24 observed that no formal education participants had a slightly high rate of anti-rubella IgG. In Iraq, Al-Mukhtar et al, 23 recorded that the higher prevalence was among individuals with the education of diploma or college and illiterate while the lower rate was among the high school individual.…”

“…This finding is in agreement with Gadallah et al, 22 who observed that the prevalence rate of antirubella IgG was 84.6% and 80.3%, respectively, among married and single women. In contrast, Wondimeneh et al, 24 noticed that the highest rate was among married and lowest among single and divorced women. Also, it was found the rubella IgG antibody among unmarried women were more than in married women 23 .…”

“…In a similar investigation by Olajide et al,19 reported that the prevalence rate of rubella IgG was 93.2%,93.4%, and 92.5%, respectively, among students, workers, and housewives. Also, Wondimeneh et al, 24 revealed that most frequent rubella IgG antibody was recorded among student (88.9%), farmer (88.6%), merchant (88.1%), civil servant (77.8%), housewife (77.3%), and daily laborer (74%). In this work, the seroprevalence of anti-rubella IgG antibody in association with the educational level showed that the highest positive results were most frequently reported at the secondary level, followed by the illiterate, university, elementary, and finally the primary level.…”

“…In a similar study, Olajide et al, 19 showed that 92.5% of females with no history of stillbirth were IgG-positive for rubella and 100% of IgG-positive females had a history of one to four stillbirth. Also, Wondimeneh et al, 24 reported that 79.2% of IgG-positive without a history of stillbirth, and 82.4% of IgG-positive females had a history of one to three stillbirth. However, the result in this study revealed that 73.5% of females IgG-positive had a family history for rubella infection and 72.9% of IgGpositive females had no family history for rubella infection.…”