title: The response to varied timing and spacing of tetanus toxoid administration in pregnancy.
abstract: One hundred and sixty-eight pregnant women at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, were studied for their response to varied timing and spacing of tetanus toxoid administration. In patients who started immunization before the third trimester of pregnancy, the longer the interval between the two doses, the better the response. In contrast, when immunization was started in the third trimester, the longer the interval between the two injections, the poorer the response. In all cases, the presence of antitetanus antibodies at booking conferred better response. In addition, the titres of antibodies in all patients who responded continued to rise till delivery. The significance of these findings is discussed and recommendations made.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Gini
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Okafor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000187:drug effects*; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013745:Tetanus Toxoid