Rubella immune status of indigenous and immigrant pregnant women in Catalonia, Spain.
BACKGROUND
The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of rubella antibodies in representative samples of pregnant women in Catalonia.


METHODS
A representative sample of pregnant women in Catalonia was obtained by random sampling by clusters (hospitals with maternity units) stratified by provinces. Blood was obtained from the umbilical cord at childbirth in 1538 women (of whom 308 were immigrants) and was tested for rubella antibodies by ELISA (Enzime-linked immunosorbent assay).


RESULTS
The global prevalence of antibodies was 93.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 93.3-93.5] and was significantly higher in indigenous women (94.9;95%CI:93.3-95.9) compared with immigrants [89.0; 95%CI: 85.5-92.5 (P<0. 0001)] with crude Odds ratio (OR) of 2.15 (95%CI: 1.40-3.32).The prevalence was higher in women living in rural habitats (97%) and those in higher social classes (96.3%); OR 2.54 (95%CI: 1.22-5.30) and 2.17 (95%CI: 1.24-3.81), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Fertile female immigrants from countries with no vaccination or where vaccination coverage is low should be actively approached for vaccination to reduce the risk of infection and congenital rubella.
Dominguez
Angela
A
Department of Microbiology, Hospital Clinic, and Department of Public Health, University of Barcelona, Spain. angela.dominguez@gencat.net
Plans
Pere
P
Espuñes
Jordi
J
Costa
Josep
J
Torner
Nuria
N
Cardeñosa
Neus
N
Plasencia
Antoni
A
Salleras
Lluís
L
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D044382:Population Groups; D011247:Pregnancy; D012409:Rubella / Q000276:immunology*; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; C040901:rubella antibodies