Rates of tetanus protection and transplacental tetanus antibody transfer in pregnant women from different socioeconomic groups in Peru.
In developing countries, neonatal tetanus causes significant mortality. Using a new competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure anti-tetanus toxin antibody levels, we compared rates of protection, total antibody levels, and maternal-to-fetal antibody ratios between different socioeconomic groups in Peru. Upper-middle-class women 25 years and older had significantly lower rates of protection and mean anti-tetanus toxin antibody levels than did lower-class women of the same age. Nevertheless, the former had higher fetal-to-maternal antibody ratios, independent of maternal age, total antibody levels, or parity. We conclude that future vaccination programs in Latin America must target upper-middle-class as well as lower-class women.
Madico
G
G
A.B. PRISMA, Lima, Peru.
Salazar
G
G
McDonald
J
J
Checkley
W
W
Calderón
M
M
Verastegui
M
M
Gilman
R H
RH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012923:Social Class; D013742:Tetanus / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013744:Tetanus Toxin / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D013744:Tetanus Toxin