Evaluation of anti-rubellaantibodies among childbearing age women in babylon governorate

الملخص EN

A study was conducted from 1st June 2005 to 30th July 2006, in which a sample of 250 women in childbearing age (15-45) years, were selected randomly from urban and rural regions of Babylon Governorate.

These women were selected from those attending Babylon Maternity and Children Hospital, and Public Health Laboratory.

This study has been carried out to determine anti-rubella antibodies among women in childbearing age.

The women included in this study were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IgG antibodies giving an overall prevalence of (77.6%), and hemagglutination-inhibition test for rubella IgG and IgM antibodies giving an overall prevalence of (80.0%).

Regarding the sociodemographic variables, the study revealed that the highest rate of seropositivity was in age group (25-29) years by ELISA and HAI tests (85.96% and 87.71% respectively), while the lowest rate was in older age group ≥40 years (66.7%) for both tests.

Also the study revealed that the rate of seropositivity was higher among women who lives in urban areas by ELISA and HAI tests (82.56% and 83.48% respectively), women with high educational level (88.9%) for both tests, and employees women (94.44%) for both tests.

Also, pregnant women had higher rate of seropositivity (78.33%) than non-pregnant ones.

However, pregnant women in the first trimester had highest rate of seropositivity by ELISA and HAI tests (79.6% and 81.63% respectively) than women in the second and third trimester.

Regarding the parity, the study revealed that the multipara women with three children had the highest rate of seropositivity (85.0%) for both tests than others.

The present study showed that the mean of the titer of anti-rubella antibodies by hemagglutination- inhibition test, was high (1952 ± 1641.9) in women with age group (25-29) years, and low (280 ± 80) in the older age women ≥40 years.

Also, the mean of the titer was higher among women who live in urban areas (1262.4 ± 1375.4), women with secondary educational level (1307.9 ± 1350.2), and employees women (1496.5 ± 1683.3).

While in pregnant women and non-pregnant ones, there is no significant difference in the mean of the titer between them.

However, the pregnant women in the second trimester show high mean of the titer (1014.4 ± 1352.9) than others, and multipara women with two children had high mean of the titer (1124.5 ± 1383) than others.