Exposure of Ugandan health personnel to measles and rubella: evidence of the need for health worker vaccination.
With rubella and, until recently, measles highly endemic in Uganda, health personnel are at risk of these vaccine-preventable diseases and a source of transmission to patients. Measles and rubella serology (IgG) and history of exposure and vaccination were determined among 311 health care workers in a nationwide study. All tested positive for measles IgG, whereas 49.2% reported having been vaccinated. Rubella antibodies were present in 98.1% of personnel; 3.2% of women of child-bearing age were still susceptible. Increasing age and longer duration of service increased the risk of rubella infection. A national policy on health worker protection should include immunisation against vaccine-preventable diseases upon entry to training.
Lewis
Rosamund F
RF
World Health Organization, Kampala, Uganda. lewisr@ug.afro.who.int
Braka
Fiona
F
Mbabazi
William
W
Makumbi
Issa
I
Kasasa
Simon
S
Nanyunja
Miriam
M
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012307:Risk Factors; D012409:Rubella / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G