PREVALENCE OF RUBELLA IGG ANTIBODIES AMONG PRODUCTIVE-AGE ‎WOMEN IN AL-MAHWEET GOVERNORATE, YEMEN

Amatalkhaliq Abdullah Gobara'a; Wadhah Hassan Edrees; Wadee Abdullah Al-Shehari; Anwar Al-Madhagi; Khaled Al-Moyed; Maged Mohammed Almezgagi; Alariqi Reem

doi:10.22270/ujpr.v5i4.436

Amatalkhaliq Abdullah Gobara'a Medical Laboratory Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Sana’a University, Yemen.
Wadhah Hassan Edrees Medical Laboratory Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Al-Razi University, Yemen
Wadee Abdullah Al-Shehari Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Ibb University, Yemen.
Anwar Al-Madhagi Medical Laboratory Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Sana’a University, Yemen.
Khaled Al-Moyed Medical Laboratory Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Sana’a University, Yemen.
Maged Mohammed Almezgagi Medical Laboratory Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Sana’a University, Yemen.
Alariqi Reem Medical Laboratory Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Sana’a University, Yemen.

10.22270/ujpr.v5i4.436

Keywords:

Al-Mahweet, Antibody, IgG, Prevalence, Rubella virus, Women, Yemen

Abstract

Background: Rubella is an infectious viral disease that caused by the Rubella virus. The incidence of rubella infection in women during pregnancy leads to complications for fetus development and cause congenital rubella syndrome or fetal death. This study aimed to determine the prevalence rate of rubella among reproductive-age women in Al-Mahweet, Yemen.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among females attending healthcare centers and schools from July 2007 to June 2008. Blood samples were collected individually from 270 females aged 15-35 years and the rubella virus IgG antibody was quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The needed data were collected by using a pretested questionnaire and analyzed by statistical program.

Results: Overall, 197(73%) had IgG-positive antibody to rubella and 73(27%) had IgG-negative antibody to rubella. The highest rate of anti-rubella IgG was among females aged 15-25 years and the lowest was among the females aged 31-35 years. Similarly, the higher rate was among females living in urban area compared to females from rural area. The statistically significant difference was found between most educational levels and positive results of anti-rubella IgG. With regard to marital status, the most frequent of rubella antibody was 72.3%, 73.1%, and 75.0%, respectively, recorded among single, married, and divorced females. The non-pregnant women had (73.7%) more incidence to rubella IgG antibody than pregnant (66.7%). 82.2% of IgG- positive women had no history of stillbirth and 65% had a history of stillbirth.

Conclusions: Most of the enrolled females had immunity against rubella virus, but still a significant percentage were susceptible to rubella infection. Thus, it is essential to introduce of rubella vaccine to control and prevent the rubella virus circulating among the community.